Sakora allowed to deliver decisions

Suspended judge of the National and Supreme Court, Justice Sir Bernard Sakora, is allowed by law to complete and deliver his outstanding reserved decisions, says Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

The Attorney General, as chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission last year, issued a public statement regarding Justice Sakora’s suspension.

“He is still currently under suspension pending a hearing of a constitutional case in the Supreme Court that has risen out of the referral (to the tribunal),” says Sir Salamo.

“As soon as the constitutional case is disposed of, depending on the outcome of the case, his suspension will be determined.

“But while he is under suspension, the law allows him to complete his outstanding reserved decisions and he is attending to reserved decisions as I speak.”

Sir Salamo said the judge is dealing with cases that are the subject of his referral but he has been allowed to continue to address and attend to reserved judgments according to law, as allowed by law.

The subject matter of investigation is over 50 delayed judgments in which Sir Bernard heard and reserved for decisions.

The tribunal had been adjourned pending the interpretation of six questions referred to the Supreme Court for interpretation regarding the setup of the tribunal by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to investigate a senior National and Supreme Court judge.

The decision to appoint the tribunal was made by the JLSC under the chairmanship of the outgoing Attorney General Ano Pala on July 13, 2017.

The appointment of the tribunal by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission is to investigate matters referred to the Commission to determine whether there are good grounds for removing Justice Sir Bernard Sakora from his office.

(Picture: Ipswich Grammar School)

Author: 
Sally Pokiton