| Australian Law News |
| Threats against judicial officers are increasing, new data revealed on the inaugural United Nations International Day for Judicial Wellbeing show.Between 2023 and 2024, the number of Victorian judicial officers who sought support to manage a threat more than doubled, with the largest number coming from Magistrates. Based on 2025 reports to date, the overall number of reported threats is expected to increase a further 70 per cent.The figures reflect New South Wales research from July 2022 which found 61 per cent of surveyed judges had experienced some form of threat, with 41 per cent threats of harm. The sitting and retired judges surveyed reported threats were most commonly experienced in person in the courtroom or court precinct followed by on social media. The Australian Judicial Officers Association (AJOA) called on the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories to formulate and implement consistent policies and measures to address the increasing threats. “The increasing prevalence of threats to the safety and security of Australian judicial officers is alarming and unacceptable,” AJOA President Justice Steven Moore said.“It demands urgent action to ensure judicial officers and court staff may go about their work without unnecessary risks to their psychological and physical health and safety, and to ensure that they may properly discharge their oaths of office. ”Justice Moore said while judicial decisions were often significant for those involved or widely discussed in the community, personal threats should never be tolerated as ‘part of the job’.“Legitimate scrutiny of decision making is a cornerstone of the law. If someone disagrees with the basis for a decision or believes a legal error has occurred there are avenues of appeal for that to be properly considered,” he said. “Judicial officers perform an essential social role. It means putting personal opinion aside and applying laws enacted by parliament and legal precedents. Threats of personal harm for performing this role are unwarranted and should alarm the community.” “It is particularly sobering to consider the deteriorating situation in relation to safety and security of judges in the United States, where judges have been murdered as recently as 2023,” he said. “Although the experience in the US shouldn’t be assumed to automatically flow to Australia, there is clearly an erosion of respect for, and understanding of, the role of judicial officers, that left unabated has the potential to undermine our system of justice. ”The United Nations chose July 25 for the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing to coincide with the anniversary of the Nauru Declaration of Judicial Wellbeing. The 2024 declaration, which was endorsed by the Chief Justices and senior judicial figures of countries including Australia, Canada, England, Jamaica and numerous Pacific Island Nations, states that the court environment and culture must demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, discrimination, harassment, bullying and other negative behaviours. |
Threats to judges a threat to justice – From Justice Steven Moore, President of the Australian Judicial Officers Association
