Charges against Chief Magistrate Walsh are upheld by tribunal; Court places gag order on attorneys

The charges of misconduct levelled against Chief Magistrate Joanne
Walsh have been upheld by the three-person Tribunal that was set
up by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC).

Walsh, who has been suspended by the JLSC since July, had a hearing
before the Tribunal that commenced on September 4 and concluded
on  September 8, 2023.

But court sources tell REAL News that the decision was handed
down in early November – more than two months after the hearing
was concluded.

REAL News has learned that the charges included Walsh’s
imposition of a fine on persons whose ringing phones would
interrupt court proceedings.

However, legal practitioners in the Magistrates Court have
confirmed that this policy was actually put in place some two years
before Walsh was appointed to the bench. 

Charges also included the destruction of government property
without proper authorization or following the required procedures.
Meanwhile, pundits tell REAL News they believe the JLSC acted
unlawfully when it suspended the chief magistrate.  In that regard,
they say, the JLSC could only have recommended her suspension to
the governor-general, who is legally authorized to act.

REAL News has also learned that a gag order has been placed on the
attorneys involved.

Accordingly, none of the three attorneys who represented Walsh
was available for comment or to indicate whether an appeal is being
considered.

In the meantime, our sources say the Tribunal’s decision was
delivered to the Registrar of the High Court for transmission to the
chief magistrate.

Reportedly, the Tribunal was made up of a judge of the Court of
Appeal; an acting High Court judge; and a senior legal practitioner.