judicial independence

Jun
14
2020

Malawi's judicial crisis deepens: resistance to gvmt moves placing CJ on immediate leave

By Carmel Rickard

Malawi remains tense after last weekend’s shock government announcement of action against the country’s Chief Justice, Andrew Nyirenda. The government said that, with immediate effect, it was sending him on leave ‘pending retirement’. That announcement galvanised the local and international community and led to protests in a number of Malawian cities. It also led to many statements of support for Malawi’s judiciary, including from other African Chief Justices.

After some weeks of threats against the judiciary, culminating last week in a series of statements of support for the judges (as reported on 11 June 2020), the government moved late Friday 12 June to put the Chief Justice of Malawi, Justice Andrew Nyirenda, on enforced leave. An offic

Jun
11
2020

Judiciary in Malawi under threat – strong support offered

By Carmel Rickard

Growing animosity expressed by Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika against the country’s judiciary has provoked shocked reaction by two major legal bodies in Malawi, the Malawi Law Society and the Magistrates and Judges Association of Malawi. Both strongly criticised the President’s comments. Now several leading international legal organisations have issued a statement supporting the judiciary and restating the need for its independence to be respected.

Since the high court of Malawi declared that national polls of 2019 were invalid, tension between the government and the judiciary has escalated. It has become even more intense following the supreme court’s ratification of the high court’s finding.

Feb
13
2020

Uganda judiciary to hold court in refugee camps; warn police on judicial independence

By Carmel Rickard

It has been a busy time for Uganda's judiciary, in the media for contrasting reasons. The judiciary put its collective foot down after police summonsed a magistrate in connection with a case he had heard and which the police were also investigating.

Uganda’s judiciary, through its acting chief registrar, has reacted strongly to an almost unheard-of event: police investigators have summoned a judicial officer in connection with a case he has handled.

A statement issued earlier this week on behalf of ‘the judiciary’ of Uganda, refers to a media report entitled, ‘Magistrate summoned over controversial land eviction order’.

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