Cite Judges who comment on court cases for contempt – Chief Justice

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has called for a more rapid application of contempt proceedings against judges who comment on ongoing court cases.

Speaking at the 7th Annual Legal Ethics Training Programme, an event organized by the African Centre on Law and Ethics (ACLE) held at GIMPA’s law faculty, she emphasized the need for judges to be held to the same standards as ordinary citizens when it comes to refraining from commenting on pending cases.

Referring to the code of conduct specifically designed for judges, which explicitly prohibits them from making any public statements that could potentially sway the outcome or fairness of a pending or impending court matter, the Chief Justice highlighted the critical significance of adhering to these ethical guidelines. In light of this, she urged for immediate action to be taken whenever judges are found to have violated these principles.

“If we could call an individual for contempt before any court for discussing a case in court, then we ought to haul a judge even faster” Gertrude Torkornoo said in her address.

“A judge shall refrain from making any public statement that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome or impair the fairness of a matter pending or impending in any court or any non-public statement that might substantially interfere with a fair trial or hearing. As you can see, I am reading, that is part of the code of conduct on propriety” Justice Torkornoo added.

Dormaahene Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who serves as both a traditional leader and a high court judge On July 1, appealed to the President and the Attorney General to halt and terminate the trial of Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson.

“As a matter of urgency, I am appealing to the President of the Republic, if he has any role to play, that trial should be aborted, and the Attorney-General should as a matter of urgency file a Nolle Prosequi to end that particular decision and abort the criminal case against Mr Quayson”, the Dormaahene explained at the Prof John Evans Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture in Sunyani.