The Transformation of Court Governance in Victoria: Part 1 - Key Concepts and Models

The article analyses the emergence of independent judicial councils and their role in facilitating judicial control of court administration in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and other countries. While much research has been conducted into the relative merits of judicial control of court administration, the study extends the court governance literature by developing an analytical policy framework for a model Judicial Council of Victoria with broad statutory responsibility for improving the quality of justice in the court system. The article conducts a review of the models of court governance and literature and contends that greater internal transparency and administrative "corporatisation" of the judiciary is essential in order to improve court performance, enhance the social legitimacy of the courts and reinforce judicial independence.