Chief Justice (CJ) Sir Albert Palmer says there are proper channels of raising complaints against a judicial officer rather than going to the media or the social media, Facebook.
Sir Albert is responding to the numerous complaints in the media recently over delays in progressing cases and suggestions of cases are being manipulated or deliberately controlled, without basis.
“There are four judges dealing with civil cases and matters are allocated at random by the Registrar or as directed by the Chief Justice,” Sir Albert explained.
“It is rather unfortunate the media is being used to tarnish the image of the work of the Courts in the country.
“I cannot stress enough that when a matter has been allocated, the matter becomes sub judice, that is ‘under judicial consideration’ or ‘in the course of trial.’
“The basis for sub judice rule that, it is the role of the courts to deal with legal issues that are before it,” Sir Albert further clarified.
Sir Albert said the courts’ role should not be usurped by others making public statements about how these issues should be dealt with.
He said he has noted some writers who like to generalise criticisms about a matter before the courts, which is wrong.
“Once a matter is before the court, any complaint or issue should properly be raised with Counsel and not in the media with view to tarnishing the image of the Court or the Judiciary.
Sir Albert said some have even challenged the Chief Justice on Facebook to make a comment on issues, which he reiterated is wrong and improper.
“I call that ‘Facebook nonsense.’
“I am not on Facebook.”
Sir Albert said he has no intention of joining Facebook and may do so if there is good reason for it.
“There are proper channels of raising complaints against a judicial officer, or, the conduct of a matter before the court, and that is, to raise the matter with the Registrar.”
The chief justice said he has chosen deliberately in certain instances not to respond to some criticisms when in his respectful view these are not worth the time responding to them.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
