I have not seen were the bar association request a meeting with the
solicitor general for an explanation. He owes them that; all the reasoning
I read deals with cases the judge presided over and rule against the state.
The Bar Association needs definitive answers from Raymond Sock if not the
Attorney General.
Thanks
Daddy Sang
> [Original Message]
> From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 7/29/2002 8:23:29 AM
> Subject: FWD:Judge's Sacking Causes Lawyers' Court Boycott
GambianJudiciary Grinds to a
>
> Judge's Sacking Causes Lawyers' Court Boycott Gambian Judiciary Grinds to
a
> Halt
>
>
>
>
> The Independent (Banjul)
>
> July 29, 2002
> Posted to the web July 29, 2002
>
> Banjul
>
> The Gambian Judiciary has ground to a halt as lawyers from across the
> country begin their boycott of the courts in strong protest over last
week's
> sacking of Justice Hassan Jallow .
>
> The lawyers said beginning today (Monday) they will embark on a boycott of
> the courts that will last for three days to demand the withdrawal of the
> decision that saw Justice Jallow packing bag and baggage to leave the
office
> he was occupying as Supreme Court judge until Thursday. A letter to
Justice
> Jallow from Solicitor General Raymond Sock did not indicate the source of
> the directive but sources link Jallow's sacking to a string of court
> decisions, which did not favour the state. Another reason being attributed
> to his sacking is his absence in the July 22 anniversary celebrations.
>
> Meanwhile irate Gambian lawyers said they were showing their displeasure
> over what they described as the unceremonious sacking of Justice Jallow,
> which was also unconstitutional.
>
> Expressing the lawyers' dismay a July 26 press release from the Bar,
> described the move as a blatant disregard for the rule of law and a clear
> interference with the independence of the judiciary.
>
> Lawyers said the boycott would affect the whole judicial hierarchy from
the
> Magistrates to the Supreme Court.
>
> The newly elected president of The Gambia Bar Association Sam George told
> journalists that the protesting lawyers are legitimately acting as human
> rights defenders to demand for justice in Justice Jallow's case, which
was a
> clear indictment of the government. They warned that they would apply
> zero-tolerate to continual executive interference with the independence of
> the Gambian judiciary. He said even those from whom the directive emanated
> know that the sacking of Justice Hassan Jallow one of the most senior
judges
> of the Supreme Court was a clear violation of the constitution and a
> deliberate attempt by the executive to undermine confidence in the
> independence of the judiciary.
>
> As a result The Gambia Bar Association has ordered that all practising
> lawyers in the country are to take part in the court boycott that runs
until
> Wednesday to demonstrate their spleen over a decision whose source of
> directive is still not known.
>
> Although the government did not give any reasons behind Justice Jallow's
> sacking, speculation is however rife that it could as well be connected
with
> a number of recent rulings made against the state in some critical
> constitutional cases one of which was the case of the Indemnity Bill.
>
> Hassan Jallow was the sitting judge in those cases, whose outcome had not
> pleased the state.
>
> The Supreme Court in this case ruled in favour of the litigant Ousman
> Sabally who took his case to the Supreme Court when the government came up
> with the Indemnity Act, practically indemnifying all members of the
security
> forces or agents acting on behalf of the government from any criminal
> prosecution in the Gambian courts. Mr. Sabally accused the paramilitaries
of
> assault during the students' demonstration two years ago and protested the
> case in the courts.
>
> The Indemnity Act has a retroactive effect, which means that atrocities
> committed against innocent civilians even months before its enactment
could
> not be challenged in the courts. But Mr. Sabally convinced, that his
> fundamental human rights have been violated because of this Act went to
the
> Supreme Court to seek redress and the court ruled against the state on two
> occasions.
>
> And since Justice Jallow's sacking on Wednesday, speculation has been rife
> that it may be connected with this ruling.
>
> But the president of The Gambia Bar Association Sam George described
> Jallow's sacking as improper and unconstitutional. He said a few people
> would not be allowed to continuously tarnish the good image of The Gambia.
>
> 'The courts are the last beacon of hope for ordinary Gambians and
therefore
> everything should be done to preserve the independence of the judiciary'
he
> posited.
>
> This is not the first time, however that a judge is being unceremoniously
> sacked without explanation. A few years ago, Justice Robin Coker was also
> fired in similar fashion, without the state bothering to give explanation,
> opening the floodgates for a tide of speculations.
>
> After his firing a number junior and senior magistrates also got the sack
in
> too humiliating a manner without much noise from the Bar. But according to
> George this time around, they would not let Jallow's sacking go
> unchallenged.
>
> He called for an unconditional withdrawal of the sacking order and the
> government's unreserved apology to Justice Jallow.
>
> 'This has to stand or else we are ready for the worst. The independence of
> the judiciary has to be observed and respected' he posited.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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