Should judges reflect the society in which they live?

Justice that is absolutely impartial is a cornerstone of democracy. Judges are the highest officials of the judiciary, as independent arbitrators they are relied upon to perform their judicial duties according to the law and Constitutional principles, autonomously of social, political and ideological concerns. In democratic nations, as that of Australia, it is not appropriate for judges to reflect their society in the performance of their judicial role. Ultimately it is the detachment of the …

…Oxford Campanion to the High Court of Australia, Tony Blackshield, Michael Coper, George Williams (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2001. Evans, Simon., "Appointment of Justices", The Oxford Campanion to the High Court of Australia, Tony Blackshield, Michael Coper, George Williams (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2001. Stephens, Ninian., "Judicial Independence", The Oxford Campanion to the High Court of Australia, Tony Blackshield, Michael Coper, George Williams (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2001. Benjamin Haslem, "Sex, Politics and the Bench", The Australian, 27 June 2002.