By John Akoon
The Judiciary has officially launched a Circuit Court in Aweil Center County, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, bringing justice closer to the local community. The inauguration took place over the weekend.
During the launch, Abraham Majur Lat, the President of the High Court in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, emphasized that the new court will facilitate the settlement of serious cases, such as murder and rape, which have been pending due to a shortage of judges.
He noted that Aweil Center County has been struggling with numerous unresolved cases, and having a dedicated court will provide much-needed support.
“Today in Aweil Center County, we are continuing with the Circuit Court, funded by UNDP, to ensure that capital cases are settled here,” Majur stated.
He explained that the establishment of the Circuit Court stemmed from a nationwide shortage of judges, prompting the judiciary to collaborate with partners to create mobile and circuit courts for better legal service delivery.
Majur added, “if we had a first-grade judge present, many cases could be processed here instead of being sent to Aweil Town. The lack of judges is why the Honorable Chief Justice, along with our partners, decided to establish this Circuit Court to bring justice closer to the people.”
Deng Majak Deng, the Director of Legal Administration in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, highlighted that launching a Circuit Court at the county level is a gesture towards providing legal services to the community. He expressed optimism about ensuring fair trials for both accusers and victims.
“This court will deliver justice openly to the public, and we have lawyers available to defend both the victims and the accused,” Majak remarked.
However, Andrea Akuar Awew, the Paramount Chief of Aweil Center County, voiced concerns about the challenges the county faces in handling legal disputes. He pointed out the poor facilities for holding suspects and inmates at the county headquarters, which can lead to chaos within the community.
Akuar called on the government and partners to prioritize the renovation of prisons and police stations in the county. “I appeal to the government and partners to build or renovate a prison. Our prisoners often sleep here with their handcuffs, which is too risky. They could be attacked by those whose properties were lost or whose relatives were wronged,” he warned.
He further stressed, “the police station also needs renovation. It is stressful to arrest suspects only to see them sleeping outside in handcuffs.”
As South Sudan continues its quest for judicial reform, the shortage of judges has sparked public outcry.
In response, the Judicial Reform Committee has prepared a detailed report on judicial reforms, which will be presented to President Kiir.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Justice James Ogola, chairperson of the Judicial Reform Committee, outlined the committee’s focus areas: “We aim to increase the number of judges, improve infrastructure and courtrooms, and expand legal resources.”