By Anthony Levey
Sierra Leone's Chief Justice, Desmond Babatunde Edwards has called on Judges and lawyers to strengthen and build cordial relationships amongst each other to achieve mutual goals.
Speaking on the 10th of February 2022 during Sierra Leone Bar Association’s 2021 Annual conference, on the theme “The importance of legal and constitutional Reforms in Consolidating Democracy, the rule of law and enhancing sustainable development", the Chief Justice stated that to ensure that there is an effective administration of justice; there should be more interaction between the Judges and Lawyers.
Explaining the importance of mutual respect, the Chief Justice noted that the existence of a cordial relationship between the two is pivotal for the effective administration of justice.
“The judge – lawyer relationship implies the cordial but respectful relationship that should exist between judges and lawyers as both play an important role in the administration of justice or effective delivery of justice,” he said.
He described the relationship between the Bench and the Bar as one of mutual respect, noting that “as officers of the court, the lawyers are required to maintain a respectful attitude toward the bench bearing in mind that the dignity of the judicial office is sine qua non to the existence proper and effective administration of justice.”
According to the Chief Justice, the primary duty of Judges is to administer justice, with the assistance of lawyers. Lawyers as officers of the court are charged with the duty to assist the court in the administration of justice.
Highlighting the criteria to be a Lawyer or a judge, Edwards said “to be a Judge would imply that a particular person is entitled to practice as counsel in a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Sierra Leone or any other country having a system of law analogous to that of Sierra Leone and approved by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission for a period of at least 10 years for a High Court Judge, 15 years standing for an Appeal Court Judge and 20 years standing for a Supreme Court Judge."
Delivering his keynote address on the topic "The Legal Profession and the Restoration of Hope" the Vice President of Sierra Leone Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said development can only take place where there is a stable political and social order and therefore there is a resounding need to strengthen the Rule of Law.
He added that the legal profession is very vital for a democratic state to maintain peace, "The rule of law is essential in building a democratic state and the only way to rebuild a state is to democratize it".
President for the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla spoke on the relationship between the SLAJ and BAR, stating that it all started in the 1970s.
Nasralla explained that journalists were arrested and locked up whiles in the execution of their trade, especially by politicians.
The President mentioned that the media has a significant role to play in national development, defend human rights, and speak against abuse of power amongst many other things.
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