Prime Minister Helen Clark today appeared to toughen her stance on judges accessing internet sex sites, saying people had lost their jobs for such practices.
Miss Clark told reporters that news that at least six judges had accessed sex sites from their work computers had raised a "very worrying constitutional issue".
While
politicians had to be careful not to interfere in the judicial independence "we also have a responsibility as holders of high public office to draw attention to the issues of credibility for the judiciary".
"What I have to signal is that the upholding of the law by people with the responsibility for the highest standards is important to the public," she said.
Six judges are under government investigation for surfing sex sites from work, Attorney-General Margaret Wilson said today.
After disclosing yesterday three unnamed District Court judges as well as High Court Judge Justice Robert Fisher were under investigation, Ms Wilson today had to revise those numbers.
Two more District Court judges were added to the list, as well as a court official who held a warrant, though was not a judge.
"The issue here is work computers, and what is appropriate in work time. Clearly this is not appropriate in work time -- whoever it is.
"In other areas of employment, people have lost their jobs for such practices.
"That is not to say that people have to be saints, but there should be areas where people should not lightly tread if they wish to retain the highest public esteem and regard.
"I think judges would be expected to uphold the highest standards in the community because they sit in judgement on others."
"Quite a lot" of New Zealanders may now have to think again about the use they make of their work computers, she said.
She did not suggest Justice Fisher should resign, as the National Party argued yesterday.
"We're still taking advice on this," she said.
"It is a very worrying constitutional issue.
"I signal what will come out of this now is fresh interest in the Government in the establishment of a body like a judicial commission, which can handle these issues."
- NZPA
