Schippers said in a statement released on Tuesday.

They said that to safeguard public confidence in the independence of the judiciary, the council had asked the JSC to "facilitate judge Hlophe's absence from office" pending the determination of the complaint.

They said the council was encouraged by reports that the JSC was to deal with the complaint as a matter of urgency.The council represents advocates.

Last week Constitutional Court judges accused Hlophe of attempting to influence the court's decision over search and seizure raids carried out by the Scorpions on properties of ANC president Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturing giant Thint.

The judges said Hlophe had tried to influence the bench in an "improper manner". The complaint has been referred to the JSC, which is trying to arrange an urgent meeting to deal with it.

On Monday, the Law Society of SA, representing attorneys, said the JSC had to deal with the complaint swiftly.

"The LSSA has no doubt that the Constitutional Court judges considered the matter carefully before lodging the complaint with the Judicial Service Commission," said the society's co-chairmen CP Fourie and Vincent Saldanha.

"The JSC is the constitutionally appropriate body to deal with complaints of alleged judicial misconduct, and the LSSA urges the JSC to deal with the matter expeditiously in view of the seriousness of the complaint," they said.