CHIEF Justice Mumba Malila says he will work towards ensuring that the Judiciary reclaims public trust and confidence.
Speaking in a virtual address to adjudicators and Judiciary staff yesterday, Mr Justice Malila, State Counsel, said that his vision was for a just and accountable judiciary guaranteeing justice for all and underpinned by the Republican constitution.
“Times without number, we have heard accusations that our Judiciary suffers political manipulation and compromise; that some judgments are motivated by considerations that are inconsistent with the judicial oath of office.
“Other public criticisms against us, our decisions and processes, include our apparent lack of pace as manifested in sluggish or slow justice,” Justice Malila said.
He said delays in the delivery of judgments and rulings and the long adjournments of cases had particularly infuriated litigants.
Justice Malila said declining standards of adjudication, inefficient registries, primordial court room facilities and procedures, substandard judgments which occasionally lack in clarity and were poorly articulated; the indiscreet use of authorities and the evident failure, in some cases, to keep on top of developments in the law, have in their own way provoked a degree of discomfiture amongst stakeholders.
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