publications_unodc_commentary-e

Application6.1 The judicial duties of a judge take precedence over allother activities.CommentaryA judge’s primary obligation is to the court195. A judge’s primary duty is the due performance of the judicial function, theprincipal elements of which involve the hearing and determination of cases requiringthe interpretation and application of the law. If called upon by the government toundertake a task which takes him or her away from the regular work of the court, heor she should not accept such an assignment without consulting the presiding judgeand other judicial colleagues to ensure that acceptance of the extra-curricularassignment will not unduly interfere with the effective functioning of the court orunduly burden its other members. A judge should resist any temptation to devoteexcessive attention to extra-judicial activities if this reduces the judge’s capacity todischarge the judicial office. There is obviously a heightened risk of excessiveattention being devoted to such activities if they involve compensation. In suchcases, reasonable observers might suspect that the judge has accepted the extracurricularduties in order to enhance his or her official income. The judiciary is aninstitution of service to the community. It is not just another segment of thecompetitive market economy.131