By Jane B. Mansaray.
The Chief Justice, Desmond Babatunde Edwards has commended the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio for his massive support to the transformation and reformation of the Sierra Leone Judiciary.
Justice Edwards made the commendation at the launching of the Judiciary maiden magazine and website, held yesterday at the Main Law Courts Building on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
The move is not only part of Chief Justice Edwardsโ commitment to transform the Judiciary in conformity with International best practices, but to also take the Sierra Leone Judiciary closer to the people.
In his statement, Chief Justice Babatunde Edwards expressed happiness in launching the very first maiden magazine and website of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone.
This he said is an historic event that did not only limit to the launch of the magazine but also registered recent achievements of the Judiciary.
According to Chief Justice Edwards, the Sierra Leone Judiciary has for the past years been conservative over its mandates despite its law reforms guidelines. โUnder my leadership, there is no room for that type of activism anymore, and no longer operating in the system of administering justice in secrecyโ, Justice Edwards said.
Chief Justice Edwards boosted of moving the Public Relations work from the Master and Registrar as it was in the past to the newly established unit of Public Relations Office with the sole responsibility of informing the general public of Judiciary issues.
He said the Magazine is the work of the Public Relations team, and therefore, congratulated staff as a whole and Judges for their support despite the volume of their work and limited court space for sittings.
Justice Edwards furthered that court criminal session has been limited apart from Sefadu, Port Loko and Moyamba since 1965 to 2018,ย but changed in 2019 under the current administration that has expanded to other districts including Kailahun with more appointments and deployment of resident Judges in Major district headquarter towns to hold criminal sessions.
Criminal Session of the High Court has in the past has been mainly supported by the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) and other development partners, but such support now comes mainly from the Government of Sierra Leone.
The Guest Speaker and Grand Chief Launcher, Dr. P.K. Muana, head of Strategic Communications Unit in the Office of the President launched the maiden Magazine.
He commended the Chief Justice for the recent transformation of the Judiciary and highlighted challenges that need to be improved on.
Other speakers including Justice Mamie made statements and the ceremony was graced by the Master and Registrar, Mrs. Elaine Thomas Archibald.
