Bribery and undue political influence are the most frequently reported forms of judicial corruption, a global survey has shown.
Other corrupt conduct included nepotism, favouritism, conflict of interest and money-laundering. The research was published last week by the International Bar Association (IBA), in partnership with the Basel Institute on Governance, as part of the IBA Judicial Integrity Initiative (JII). It involved 1,577 legal professionals from 120 countries.
The study suggests that, while bribery is most prevalent where the rule of law is weak, undue political influence occurs in countries across the board.
It found that judges and prosecutors were most at risk of undue political influence, with lawyers and court personnel often serving as intermediaries among those employed by the justice system as well as acting as agents for third parties.
In its next phase, the JII will develop practical measures to address corrupt behaviour.
