Dispense justice with braveness – Justice Dotse
Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse, a Supreme Court Judge, has admonished judges and magistrates to dispense justice with boldness, courage and braveness.
“The bench is not a place for timorous souls – you must be bold, courageous and brave in whatever you do,” he said.
Justice Dotse further asked the judges and magistrates to pursue the truth at all times, maintain decorum and high standards in their courts, stressing: “Maintain very few friends and give few people your ear and access to your homes and offices and above all live above reproach”.
Justice Dotse was speaking at the swearing-in of 12 Circuit Court judges out of eight are females and seven magistrates out of which five are females at a ceremony at the new Court Complex in Accra.
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, administered the Oaths of Secrecy and Allegiance and Judicial Oath on the judges and magistrates who were appointed after a rigorous search, screening, examination, and interviews.
Justice Dotse entreated the judges to make their Code of Conducts their second Bibles and apply the necessary sentencing guidelines to avoid remanding accused persons unnecessarily adding the Attorney General was mindful of de-congesting the country’s prisons.
He urged the judges and magistrates to conduct researches so they could become confident in their ruling, adding; “you should not allow any lawyer to intimidate you”.
Justice Dotse said under the law judges and magistrates had been given the discretion whether or not to grant bail to accused persons.
He said it was important for them to manage their courts and time so they did not resort to adjourning cases unnecessarily.
Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, entreated the judges and magistrates be blind to outside influences and internal idiosyncrasies in administering justice.
She said one of the first duties of one exalted to the bench was to do justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
She said to ensure that justice was done to citizens and the state the judge should be diligent and impartial.
“You must be firm but fair, stern but not harsh, kind but not doting to the affection of bewildered users of the court who are sometimes lost in the labyrinth of legal rules jargon, processes and procedures in which a few lawyers and judges get lost themselves,” she added.
Mrs Appiah-Oppong told the judges to avoid the temptation of influence peddling and club-ism which had derailed many their fine judicial career and soured many brilliant legal minds.
Mr Justin Amenuvor, the Secretary of the Ghana Bar Association, said the nation expected them to live according to the oaths sworn and the association expected nothing less than that.
Mr Amenuvor said the association would always support good judges but would not hesitate to reprimand those who went wrong.
Justice Sir Dennis Adjei, the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges, congratulated them and urged them to abide by their code of conduct.
Ms Marian Affoh, one of the newly sworn in judges, on behalf of her colleagues, said she appreciated the confidence reposed in them and pledged to be committed and dedicated in justice delivery.
The Circuit Court Judges include: Nana Brew, Yaw Poku Acheampong, Abena Amponsah Buani, Patricia Amponsah, Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku, Alexander Oworae, Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye, Ayitey Armah-Tetteh, Charity Akosua Asem and Malike Awo Woanyah.
The Magistrates are Naa Amerley Akowuah, Ellen Ofei-Ayeh, Kwabena Ansah Pobih, Isaac Oheneba-Kuffour, Maame Efua Tordimah, Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong and Angela Attachie.
Source: GNA