Authoritative
sources have disclosed to this medium that every judge in the high court would
henceforth hear criminal cases starting from the next legal term, which
commences in October 2017.
The
high court is divided into Criminal Division, Civil and Land Division,
Commercial Division and the Miscellaneous General Division.
Our
sources revealed that the Criminal Division is currently staffed by two judges,
Justice Zainab Jawara Alami and Justice Sainabou Wadda Cisse, noting that there
are quite substantial criminal cases awaiting trial with many of the accused
persons in custody for several years.
The
source further pointed out that because of concerns about the length of
pre-trial custody and the need for more expeditious disposal of criminal cases,
the Chief Justice has now directed that all other judges of the high court
would in addition to their other assignments, handle other criminal cases.
This
is unlike in the past when only two judges out of a dozen or so judges deal
with criminal cases.
The
Chief Judge has also directed all the judges to give priority to criminal cases
over civil matters, where possible to sit during the long vacation to hear
criminal matters.
The
source further disclosed that the Chief Judge has also appealed to members of
the Gambia Bar Association (GBA), the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) and
the Attorney General’s Chambers to cooperate with the judiciary to ensure that
criminal cases proceed to hearing.