What is meant by the term judicial independence?
Judicial independence is the principle that judges should be free to use their best judgment to interpret and apply the law without fear of punishment. When truly independent, judges are not influenced by personal interests or relationships, the identity or status of the parties to a case, or external economic or political pressures. The principle is the core of judicial authority and extends to all functions of the court system that are necessary to the exercise of constitutional judicial powers.
