Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has called for a swifter application of contempt proceedings against judges who comment on ongoing court cases.
Speaking at the 7th Annual Legal Ethics Training Programme organised by the African Centre on Law and Ethics (ACLE) at GIMPA’s law faculty, Justice Torkornoo said if ordinary citizens could be cited for contempt when they make public comments about cases that are subjudice, then judges, whose code of conduct forbids them from discussing cases before the courts must even be cited for contempt quicker when they fall foul.
She emphasised that judges should be held to the same standards as ordinary citizens when it comes to refraining from making public statements that could influence the outcome or fairness of pending or impending court matters.
She stated, "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."
She quoted a relevant portion of the code of conduct for judges to justify her call.
"'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'", she referenced, indicating to the audience: "As you can see, I am reading, that is part of the code of conduct on propriety".
A few weeks ago, Dormaahene Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who is a high court judge, appealed to the President and the Attorney General to halt and terminate the trial of Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson.
The Dormaahene made this appeal during the Prof John Evans Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture in Sunyani on July 1. He urgently requested the filing of a Nolle Prosequi to end the criminal case against Mr. Quayson.
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