By Landing Ceesay
The Honorable Chief Justice of the Republic of the Gambia, Hassan B. Jallow, has outlined significant challenges confronting the country’s judiciary, particularly the shortage of courtrooms despite a substantial workload.
Addressing the audience at the official opening of the 2024 Legal Year, Chief Justice Jallow expressed concerns about the ongoing shortage of courtroom space, hindering the optimal utilization of judicial officers. The current workload surpasses the capacity of the existing number of judges and magistrates, necessitating the urgent need for additional, well-equipped courtrooms to handle the workload efficiently.
“There have been numerous challenges along the way: a shortage of courtroom space continues to hamper the optimum use of the full complement of judicial officers. It is not an easy situation – the workload is immense for the present number of judicial officers; we need more Judges and Magistrates to manage the workload efficiently; but we lack the courtroom space to accommodate and ensure the full operation of all the courts; Additional and well-equipped and furnished courtroom are thus critical,” he stated.
Chief Justice Jallow highlighted that monthly allocations of funds to the judiciary remain consistently inadequate for basic operations. Support services crucial for court proceedings, such as interpretation and records preparation, require strengthening. Furthermore, the lack of transportation for magistrates, particularly in the Greater Banjul Area, continues to impede the efficiency of subordinate courts.
“Monthly allocations of funds to the Judiciary continue to be consistently inadequate for our basic operations; judiciary support services such as interpretation and records preparation services critical for court proceedings require which are strengthening; lack of transportation for magistrates, particularly in the Greater Banjul Area, continues to hamper the efficiency of the subordinate courts,” Hon. Chief Justice told the gathering at the official opening of the 2024 Legal Year.
Since its establishment in 1982, spanning more than four decades, the annual observance of the Legal Year holds a significant place in the judicial calendar of The Gambia. On Sunday, the Judiciary inaugurated the commencement of the Legal Year for 2024.
This occasion serves as a crucial moment for judicial officers to showcase their activities and accomplishments.
The official opening ceremony was led by His Excellency Muhammad BS Jallow, the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, representing the President.
The Legal Year offers the Judiciary an opportunity to reflect on challenges, strategize for the future, and ensure the effective and efficient dispensation of quality justice.
The commemoration will include various activities, such as the annual Call to the Bar Ceremony and a dialogue between the Bar and the Bench.
Hon. Chief Justice Jallow also presented statistics on the number of cases registered and disposed of since 2022.
“The legal year 2023 which has just ended was indeed a very busy one for the Judiciary. In the area of our core activity, i.e. the hearing and determination of cases, the Judiciary started the 2023 legal year with a carry-over of 5,810 Cases from 2022.
“In 2023 a further 5639 cases were filed across all courts bringing our total case load in 2023 to 11,449 cases. In the course of 2023, a total of 5,273 cases, i.e. 46% of this caseload, were disposed of. We have thus started 2024 with a load of 6176 cases. A very heavy workload indeed continues to lie ahead,” Hon. Chief Justice stated.
The Honorable Chief Justice emphasized that the judiciary is dedicated to intensifying its efforts during the 2024 legal year to fulfill its core mission of delivering effective and high-quality justice through the prompt and efficient resolution of cases.
Additionally, the Chief Justice noted that a two-day Retreat for Judges, held in November 2023, provided an opportunity for a thorough review of working methods and practices. During this retreat, judicial officers identified actions they could take to facilitate the judiciary in achieving its mission.
“We have come away from the retreat with a deep commitment to ensuring the hearing and determination of cases within a reasonable time, without undue delay; to exercise diligence and purpose; to be guided by the rights of litigants to have their matters determined within a reasonable time; to be guided by the constitutional encouragement to deliver judgments within three months of the last adjournment; to improve, as individual judicial officers, the management of our cases; and above all to demonstrate the highest standards of honesty, integrity, impartiality, fairness, and independence in the discharge of our duties,” he said.
The Judiciary of the Gambia has a busy schedule ahead, with a variety of activities planned for the coming days. These include training workshops for judges and magistrates, as well as social events and other initiatives.