The newly appointed Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, in his first meeting with magistrates on January 6 in his chamber at the Law Court Building in Freetown, has assured them of dignified treatment and the prospect of promotion and improved fringe benefits.
He assured the magistrates of fair and respectable treatment.
He told them that the days of partial treatment of some magistrates over the others are gone.
He said the judiciary was now on a new trajectory aiming at better service delivery.
He introduced two supervisory judges who would be liaising between the magistrates and his office.
This is a move that has been observed to be an effective one to thwart oppressive moves by certain individuals whose actions negate legislative prescriptions that undermine the cordial relation between the chief justice and magistrates.
Justice Komba Kamanda, who himself started his ascendancy in judiciary from magistrate to chief justice assured the magistrate that their welfare would be taken into consideration
He, however, urged them to be punctual, dedicated, and manifest ethicality in the disposition of their duties.
He called for collective efforts to enhance the unity of direction that would bring to fruition the objectives of judicial administration.
Observers say the new CJ should be cautious in handling reports on magistrates, especially with the existence of mischief-making syndicates that operate within and without the institution and are capable of militating events against certain individuals.
