Lawyers for deputy judge president Patricia Goliath have denied that there was anything untoward about her decision not to attend, or send representatives to, Friday’s meeting of the Judicial Service Commission’s Conduct Committee – which will decide whether she or judge president John Hlophe will face a possible impeachment investigation.

By contrast, Hlophe and his lawyers arrived at the Constitutional Court for the meeting, which will determine if there are grounds for the Western Cape High Court judge president or his deputy to be investigated for “gross misconduct”.

The pair have levelled damaging and sometimes cringeworthy complaints of untoward judicial interference, favouritism, verbal and physical abuse, dishonesty and incompetence against each other...