AYV News, July 2, 2025
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone, through the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI), with support from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), has ended a two-day orientation and refresher training course for High Court Judges and Magistrates at Mozza Resort, York Village in the outskirts of Freetown.
The training, which centered around children in conflict with the law, civil and Criminal Procedures, was intended to bring Judges and Magistrates up to speed with the intricate details of adjudicating cases involving children and young persons by taking into consideration their special needs and vulnerability.
Welcoming the participants to the gathering, the Deputy Chairman of the JLTI, Hon. Justice Reginald Fynn (JA) said the training was to ensure that judicial officers are periodically exposed to continuous professional development which would ensure effective service delivery in the administration of justice.
He lauded the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda for what he described as his “continuous interest and commitment” to the training and professional development of judicial officers amid changing circumstances within just six months into his administration.
In his opening remarks, the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda said his leadership is committed to advancing equal rights to justice for all persons throughout the country, especially children and to ensure that justice is not only accessible but also expeditious and efficient.
He said judicial officers should be committed to always doing what’s right in advancing the course of justice by taking into consideration all laws applicable in the jurisdiction and those tailor-made to deal with the specific cases that come before them. He encouraged Judges and Magistrates to replicate what they learnt and ensure that the wheels of justice continue to run smoothly nationwide.
Cautioning Benchers on the functions of the Ethics Committee within the judiciary, the Chief Justice warned that any behaviour, act or conduct that does not resonate with the institution’s core values which include independence, impartiality, equality, accountability and integrity, would be met with strict resistance.
Commenting on the facilitators, the Hon. Chief Justice Kamanda said, “Hon. Justices Alusine Sesay (JSC), Haja Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi (JSC), Reginald Fynn (JA), Suliaman Bah (JA), Tonia Barnett (JA), Alfred T. Ganda (JA) and Aiah S. Allieu were carefully selected to represent experienced Benchers, most of whom have served as Judges and Magistrates for a considerable period and in different parts of the country. I have no doubts that they have the wealth of experience to pass on to others in both Civil and Criminal matters.”
The orientation covered topics such as the Criminal Procedure Act 2024, Comments on Civil Procedure, the High Court Rules, Evidence at a glance, Juveniles interacting with the law, Judgment writing, Mannerism on the Bench and the Bail Regulations and the position of the Judiciary, among others.
The participants were drawn from across the country, which included 36 Magistrates and seven newly appointed High Court Judges who have been posted to different parts of the country, thereby increasing access to justice.
