By Josephine Sesay
In a significant move to strengthen the justice system, particularly for children and vulnerable groups, the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, through the Judicial and legal training Institute (JLTI) and in collaboration with UNICEF, has concluded a two-day orientation and refresher training session for high court Judges and Magistrates.
Held at Mozza Resort in York village, on the outskirts of Freetown, the training brought together 36 Magistrates and seven newly appointed high court Judges from across the country, the goal: to sharpen their understanding of civil and criminal procedures, especially those involving juveniles, and ensure fair, efficient, and child-sensitive adjudication.
Deputy chairman of JLTI, Hon. Justice Reginald Fynn (JA), welcomed participants by highlighting the importance of continuous professional development in the judiciary, this training is part of our commitment to ensuring that judicial officers are prepared to meet the demands of justice in a changing legal environment, he said.
Justice Fynn commended Hon, chief Justice Komba Kamanda for his proactive stance on judicial reform and capacity building, in just six months, the chief justice has made notable strides in pushing forward professional development, he added.
In his keynote address, chief Justice Kamanda stressed his administration’s focus on making justice accessible, especially to the country’s most vulnerable populations, every child has the right to a fair and timely trial, as judges and magistrates, your role is central in delivering justice that is not only fair but also humane, he said.
He urged judicial officers to uphold the highest ethical standards and warned against any behavior that undermines public trust, any conduct that violates our core values, independence, impartiality, equality, accountability, and integrity, will not be tolerated, he cautioned.
Chief Justice Kamanda also praised the facilitators, who included seasoned jurists such as Hon. Justices Alusine Sesay (JSC), Haja Fatmata Bintu Alhadi (JSC), Reginald Fynn (JA), Suliaman Bah (JA), Tonia Barnett (JA), Alfred T. Ganda (JA), and Aiah S. Allieu, these are judges with vast experience from different jurisdictions, and I trust they’ve imparted valuable knowledge to their peers, he said.
The two-day course covered crucial topics including the criminal procedure Act 2024, civil procedure updates, High court rules, evidentiary issues, juvenile justice, judgment writing, courtroom conduct, bail regulations, and the judiciary’s evolving role in child protection.
The training also marks a step forward in decentralizing access to justice, as the newly appointed high court Judges have been deployed to various regions to improve coverage and responsiveness.
With UNICEF’s support, the judiciary is aiming not only to enhance professional standards but also to promote a justice system that is child-friendly, equitable, and aligned with international human rights norms.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,4th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
