The event was held in the spirit of discussing key provisions of the rules of the Gambian courts, both the High Court and the subordinate courts, identify the challenges they pose in the administration of effective and efficient justice and to come up with ways to such challenges.
At the confab, Justice Sainabou Wadda Cisse said the judiciary of The Gambia developed a strategic plan for 2021-2025, with a strategic objective to review all judicature acts and rules to reduce undue technicalities.
She noted further that there are critical challenges to some of the rules of court that attract the need for reform for the calls from various quarters for the reform of the Rules.
“The two-day conference is a much-anticipated event that would afford a great opportunity to the Judiciary and all relevant stakeholders to set the stage for a collective and in-depth review of the rules and procedures that would ultimately promote timely, judicious and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanism.” she said.
Participants were taken through the role of the judge in dealing with interlocutory applications for interim reliefs at the high court by Justice O.M.M. Njie, as well as understanding the front loading regime and the rules on pleadings and pre-trial for proper administration of justice by Hon Justice Achibonge.
They were also exposed to diversifying the law on the undefended list proceeding as a strategy for reduction of case backlog by Ms. I Drammeh, senior legal practitioner.
