Judges asked to set target of 150 cases by December

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
JUDGES have been asked to dispose of more cases in the National Court and Supreme Court from this year onwards.
Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika set each judge “a target of 150 cases to be disposed of before Dec 31”.
“I want over 1,000 cases to be disposed of, and when we do that, we will not have any carry-over,” he said.
“That is what I used to achieve.
“It is not an easy task but it can be done.”
Last December, judges resolved to each dispose of a minimum of 150 cases.
“Anything over that will be (a further) reduction of the backlog,” Sir Gibbs said.
He will assess their performance when the 2021 Legal Year ends in December “as to whether we achieve that target or not.
“And we will come up with new strategies.”
He also wants the work ethics of judges to change.
“Another aspect of the work of judges is the amount of time spent in court and in chambers,” he said.
“I want our time in court to count – and that is to dispose of cases and make your time count in chambers to write judgments.
“Research skills of judges need to be enhanced.
“We need law-trained associates to help judges with legal research.
“Computer skills to do legal research must be enhanced and sustained.”