By Alieu Amara Suwu
Members of Parliament on the committee of supply (group two) on Thursday, 4th of December 2024, claimed that some magistrate courts in the provinces cannot accommodate court hearings due to their dilapidated conditions, especially during the raining season.
These MPs levied these claims when the Justice and Legal Service Commission was before them as a witness to defend their budget and to be accountable for funds allocated to them in the previous years.
The MPs said if that could be fixed by allocating more funds to them, they would recommend it. They further said their allocations have been very small compared to other ministries, departments, and agencies.
The Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) in Sierra Leone is responsible for the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges and other legal officers. The JLSC’s role is to ensure that the judiciary is independent, impartial, and efficient in administering justice.
The JLSC’s responsibilities include advising the President on the appointment of the Chief Justice and other judges of the Superior Court, supervising recruitment, advertising vacancies, maintaining a confidential report system, selecting candidates for scholarships and courses, and establishing procedures for transfers.
On the other hand, the Magistrate Court in Sierra Leone is a court that adjudicates civil and criminal matters for a specific judicial district. The jurisdiction of the court is exercised by a magistrate who is appointed to the court. The Courts’ Act of 1965 established magistrate’s courts. The Courts (Amendment) Act of 2021 increased the jurisdiction of magistrates’s courts in civil matters.
