A JUDICIAL SCANDAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10919, 30 March 1896, Page 5

A JUDICIAL SCANDAL.

CORRUPT JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. THE LORMER INQUIRY. [Per Press Association.! MELBOURNE, March 29. The Lormer Inquiry Board has drawn up its report. It finds that Rappiport was guilty of corruption in receiving bribes, gifts and privileges from persons likely to be tried by him. Rappiport and Baxter were also guilty of combining to devise means to defeat the administration of justice by acting together in the interests of persons they were likely to try. Bird was found guilty in several cases of acting in the interests of one of the litigating parties, and adjudicating, in courts where he did not usually sit, in the interests of women of ill - fame with whom he had had immoral relations. The Board also found that Baxter on several occasions visited brothels. With reference to the ch&rge against Lormer the Board found—“ That he sat in cases where he had a strong bias or prejudice; that he acted improperly in so doing, but that he was unconscious of any impropriety in so doing.” The charge against Borroughs was found not proven. With regard to the general charge of bench-packing the Board found that magistrates had migrated from one court to another, but in doing so were unconscious of any impropriety. A recommendation is made that appointments of justices of the peace should be made by a special board or judge of the Supreme Court independent of political influence, and that in Melbourne and other populous districts only stipendiary magistrates should adjudicate.

The Cabinet will consider the report and decide what action is to be taken in the proven charges.