CANON 2 – INTEGRITY

Canon 2 says that Integrity is essential not only to the proper

discharge of the judicial office but also to the personal demeanor
of judges.

- Well integrity is the quality of being honest and

having strong moral principles or moral
uprightness. This is one of the characters that a
judge should possess for the proper
performance of judicial duty. Judicial office
circumscribes the personal conduct of a judge
and imposes a number of restrictions thereon,
and canon 2 states that integrity must not only
observed to the proper discharge of the judicial
office but also to the personal demeanor of
judges, so a judge has to observe this faithfully
as the price he has to pay for accepting and
occupying an exalted position in the
administration of justice.
SECTION 1
Section 1 of the canon 2 states that judges shall ensure that not
only is their conduct above reproach, but that it is perceive to be
so in the view of a reasonable observer.

- Under this section, it simply reminds judges that

they must not only guarantee that their conduct
is above reproach but it must be seen to be so in
 the view of a reasonable observer. He should be
cautious and avoid taking any move that may
raise the idea that his social or commercial
relationships or acquaintances are influencing
his judicial decision.
SECTION 2
Under section 2, the behavior and conduct of judges must reaffirm
the people's faith in the integrity of the judiciary. Justice must not
merely be done but must also be seen to be done.

- A judge is the visible representation of the law

and justice and from him the people may draw
their will and awareness to obey the law. For the
judge to reaffirm the people’s faith in the integrity
of the judiciary, he must be the first to abide by
the law and weave an example for the others to
follow. Thus, when a judge becomes a
transgressor of any law he places his office in
disrepute, encourages disrespect for the law and
impairs public confidence in integrity of the
Judiciary itself as well as the legal system, and
deserves disciplinary sanction.
SECTION 3
Judges should take or initiate appropriate disciplinary measures
against lawyers or court personnel for unprofessional conduct of
which the judge may have become aware.
 - Section 3, authorizes a Judge to take or initiate
appropriate disciplinary measures against
lawyers or court personnel for unprofessional
conduct. Judges have the duty to supervise
court personnel to ensure prompt and efficient
dispatch of business in their courts.

Article entitled “Why Leaders Need To Lead By

Example” FOCUSU.COM
Pompeia was the wife of the great Julius
Caesar. In 62 BC she hosted the festival of the Bona
Dea (“good goddess”),  which no man was permitted
to attend. However a young patrician named Publius
Clodius Pulcher managed to gain admittance
disguised as a woman, apparently for the purpose of
seducing Pompeia. He was caught and prosecuted
for sacrilege. Caesar gave no evidence against
Clodius at his trial, and he was acquitted.
Nevertheless, Caesar divorced Pompeia, saying that
“my wife ought not even to be under suspicion.” This
gave rise to a proverb, sometimes
expressed: “Caesar’s wife must be above
suspicion.”