By Francis H. Murray
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has announced that all magistrate courts will reopen to the public on Wednesday 1 July. The courts were closed in April after a remand prisoner tested positive for coronavirus. The Office of the Chief Justice made the announcement in a statement released last week.
The reopening comes with a number of measures aimed at minimizing the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 within court precincts. Some of the measures include allowing a lot fewer people to attend court cases than before.
Magistrates have also been advised that only a minimum amount of cases will be taken per day. They have also been advised to adjust their diaries in such a way that cases will be swiftly adjudicated.
“Because of the limited number of cases, Magistrates are asked to plan their Case Diary in such a way as to ensure that when cases are brought up they take as many witnesses as would ensure the quickest completion without unnecessary adjournments”, instructs the statement from Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards.
The directives from the Chief Justice go on to note that magistrates must liaise with prison officers to ensure they limit the number of remand prisoners brought to court.
The directive has also put a hold on all private criminal summons or prosecutions, adding that “only cases from police stations” will be dealt with.
Measures like social distancing and the compulsory use of facemasks are all part of the new measures announced by the judiciary.
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