Victoria’s judges are taking part in the world’s first 360-degree feedback program for judicial officers, Deputy Premier and Attorney General Rob Hulls said after the tabling of the Judicial College’s annual report in Parliament this week.
“The Judicial College of Victoria’s 360-degree feedback program has proved so popular that other jurisdictions, from neighbouring states to the Commonwealth and the UK, are now considering developing similar programs,” Mr Hulls said.
“I congratulate the judicial officers who have taken part in the feedback survey – which can be confronting – in the name of professional development.”
For each survey, 15 to 20 assessors – lawyers, other judges and court staff – are given the opportunity to provide feedback on a participating judge using an anonymous online questionnaire. The survey questions focus on things such as timeliness, courtesy, listening skills, and verbal and non-verbal communication – not judgments or sentencing decisions.
The process is confidential for everyone involved. Each judicial officer is provided with the collated responses at a lengthy one-on-one debrief.
“The Judicial College of Victoria offered the 360-degree feedback program as a pilot last year, and announced in its annual report tabled in Parliament that it was so successful it will be available on an ongoing basis,” Mr Hulls said.
Legislation passed earlier this year allows for the heads of the Supreme, County and Magistrates’ Courts, and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, to direct judicial officers to attend where necessary professional development and training programs to ensure they remain in touch with legal and community trends.
Over 2006-07, the College conducted 16 programs on topics as diverse as judgment writing, child witnesses, and Koori and Islamic cultural awareness.
“This past year, large numbers of judicial officers also participated in an introduction to human rights jurisprudence and an overview of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities,” Mr Hulls said.
“Seminars on the practical application of human rights law in Victoria were held by the Judicial College of Victoria throughout 2007 and featured eminent international speakers.”
The College also made significant progress during 2006-07 on a framework to educate judicial officers about changes to the way sexual assault cases are handled by the courts.
