Chief Justice Jallow was speaking at the opening ceremony of Legal Year 2025 in Banjul on Sunday.
He indicated that some judicial officers exceed this figure significantly, citing each of these cases requires equal diligence, fair hearing and due process and the cases continue to flow into the system.
He explained that the majority of civil cases arriving in the West Coast Region relate to land disputes which are often more complex and take time to resolve.
Honorable Jallow said judicial officers are in the main trying their best amidst many challenges to cope with this immense workload which is continuously on the increase.
According to CJ, the 2024 Legal Year started with a total of 6317 cases as at 1st of January 2024, a carryover from the previous year. "In the course of 2024 a total of 6678 cases comprising 4849 civil and 1826 criminal cases were filed in the Courts," which represent an increase of 25% over those registered in 2023.
The Chief Justice thus commended all the judicial officers and their support staff as well as counsel and other participants in the judicial process.
"We need more investment in the administration of justice in order to manage such workload more efficiently. Greater diligence by all participants; more hands; more courtrooms. Improved working environment and better conditions of service for staff; better rules," he said.
The country’s top judge explained that the attainment of speedy and quality justice depends on many factors. He cited the diligence of the judicial officers, provision of adequate human and other resources to the Judiciary and to other stakeholders in the justice process as well as adequate infrastructure for courtroom, rules of procedure and practice all promote speedy and effective justice.
"But perhaps best of all to reduce litigation by strengthening not only the court connected ADR mechanism but also encourage greater resort to traditional dispute resolution systems," he noted.
He emphasised that heavy as the workload may be, judicial officers must do the best with respect to each case they adjudicate.
He called on the judicial officers to be committed and continue to be committed to the hearing and determination of cases within a reasonable time; to improve, as individual judicial officers, the management of their cases; above all, to demonstrate the highest standards of honesty, integrity, impartiality, fairness and independence in the discharge of duties.
He noted that impeccable conduct, on and off the Bench would inspire and retain the confidence of the members of the public over whom “we preside as adjudicators," he advised.
