Lawyers, clients and users of the Courts across the Country with Accra the most hit are grappling with the compounding situation of unavailability of judges and in some cases, judges on leave causing challenges to the cases of Lawyers and clients who are compelled to endure chains of adjoirnments in the cases.

The scarcity of Judges to sit in Courts across the High Courts, Circuit Courts and District Courts in the Country has been compunded by a number of Judges on leave for maternity and studies. With the promotion of over 34 Circuit Court Judges to the High Court Bench, and transfer of Judges across the board, the crisis of judge shortage is more profound at the lower Courts, that is, Circuit and District Courts.

STAR OF THE MONTH - Derick Adu-Gyamfi Esq.

The Annual Labour Law Conference

Central Region

In Central Region, The Law Platform can report of the recent assumption of duties by three newly promoted Circuit Court Judges who are now warming themselves into position and thus curtailing the lack of Judges in the High Courts at Cape Coasts only some weeks ago.

At the Cape Coast Circuit Court, a judge is yet to report with same situation at the District Court. The Elmina District Court Magistrate has taken on relieving duties for the Cape Coast District Court with pressures on the Court mounting and a strain on the relieving Magistrate.

Ashanti Region

In High Courts 8, 6, and 4 in Kumasi, a Justice is yet to report with Lawyers and clients taking a series of dates in anticipation of a Judge to take business of Lawyers, Clients and court users. The same fate applies to the Mampong Court whose Judge has been transferred to another Court but a replacement is yet to report to take over the business of the Court.

At the Circuit Court Bench, Kusmasi Circuit Court users have a better story to tell owing the presence of judges in all Circuit Courts who according to sources are efficiently running their Courts.

Accra

In Accra, a number of Circuit Courts are yet to have replacements upon the promotion of their Judges. Examples of such Courts are the Court bequested to H/L Bertha Aniagyei by Justice Acquah, famed for his ruling in the Abronye Case, Accra Circuit Court 9. Circuit Court 1 has no judge and the neighbouring Labour Court 1 now has a judge but on leave.

Among Courts whose judges are on leave causing disrruptions in the pace of cases of Lawyers, Clients and Court users are the Probate Court 2 Judge, Adenta High Court, the Circuit Court 1 and the District Court sitting at Adentan.

Align leave and promotions

The Law PlatformI in coversation with lawyers who are hit by the phenomenon some Lawyers and Judges suggest the streamlining of leave for judges, transfers and promotions to cause the least inconvenience to the business of the Court and inconvenience to transfered judges who sometimes may face strain in transfers.