Aspirant judge’s application to Labour Court described as 'chaotic' during interview

JOHANNESBURG - An aspirant judge’s application to the Labour Court has been described as "chaotic" during his interview.

On Tuesday, Advocate Bart Ford spent over an hour before the Judicial Service Commission fielding tough questions.

He boasts over 30 years in Labour Law and has acted in the Labour Court.

When candidates apply for vacancies in the country’s courts, they must fill a questionnaire detailing their accolades, such as their number of reported judgements.

Ford who is vying for a spot on the Labour Court bench, had his application probed by commissioners, including Advocate Tembeka Ngcukatobi.

"The application form tells you what you should do then you decide, I’ll give you arbitration awards. Commissioner Baloyi is asking you about these awards, you say, well disregard them. The form says give us reported judgements, you don’t give us reported judgements, you give us reportable judgements, and when I asked you about that, you say I can collect them and give them to you – it seems it’s a bit chaotic, it's making me unsettled."

When asked by Justice Minister Mamoloko Kubayi whether Ford took the application process seriously.

"Commissioner, the explanation that I gave does not seem to undermine the proceedings or point to the fact that I did not have time. The questionnaire as presented is not embellished, it's simply responding to the questions."

Advocate Ford has conceded that certain judgments he listed in his application should not have been listed.