NCJ Number
187538
Date Published
2000
Length
127 pages
Annotation
This study examines the additional jobs held by "temporary" judges (act as substitute judges when full-time judges are not available) in the Netherlands and considers possible conflicts of interest between such jobs and judicial responsibilities.
Abstract
In 1997 a law was passed in the Netherlands that requires Dutch courts to keep a register of additional offices held by judges. This study used these registers from 21 courts (1,012 judges, including 400 temporary judges) to compile an inventory of the kinds of jobs judges perform in addition to their job as judge. A total of 3,393 additional jobs were documented for the judges; temporary judges had significantly more additional jobs than full-time judges. Roles performed by judges in their additional jobs include solving disputes outside the courts, providing legal advice in connection with positions on advisory boards, serving on governing boards in both public and private sectors, and imparting legal knowledge (writer, editor, or teacher). These jobs are in the spheres of education, public health, government and politics, financial services, sports, building and housing, the prison system and resettlement of discharged prisoners, art and culture, and the church. Some implications of these findings are discussed, notably possible conflicts of interest between judicial responsibilities and those of additional jobs, as well as how complaints about alleged conflicts of interest are handled. 2 tables and 66 references