Speaking at the opening of the legal year, Chief Justice Jallow said the recruitment of magistrates to fill the gaps in the rural areas is to ensure full national coverage for the subordinate Courts and thus facilitate greater access to justice at that level countrywide.
A new Chief Magistrate in the person of H/W Modou Njie has now taken up duties as well.
“In the past year the capacity of the Bench of the Magistrates Court has also been strengthened with the recruitment by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of five new Magistrates of the First Class who, after appropriate induction training, have now been deployed to various subordinate Courts,” he said.
He further stated that the capacity of the High Court Bench, the first tier of the Superior Courts, is also being strengthened with the recruitment of additional Judges.
He said: “Whilst recruitment and training for capacity building will continue to be a focus of the next year, this will be supplemented by attention to improving the regulatory framework as well with inter alia the development and institution of a performance-based appraisal and assessment system for Judicial as well as support staff and the development of appropriate human resource policies to promote greater staff efficiency and performance.”
He added: “The 2023 legal year also witnessed three other major developments. With the assistance of the Judicial College and the CMJA we developed and adopted Sentencing Guidelines for Magistrates on 21st January 2024.”
He also revealed that rape, assault, theft and offences ally to stealing, for which guidance of the subordinate Courts have been issued.
“This should assist in having a more methodical objective and transparent approach to and the reduction or elimination of disparities in sentencing,” he said. “The Sentencing Council under the leadership of the Hon. Justice M.M. Sey ISC is, with the support of the Judicial College and CMJA, preparing Sentencing Guidelines for other offences for the consideration of the Chief Justice.”
He appreciated the CMJA and the UK government for their support, saying: “We wish to record our appreciation of the assistance of the Judicial College and the CMJA and the government of the United Kingdom for this important project as well as for the work of the Sentencing Council and its leadership.”
