Vacation courts can conduct trials during legal vacation – Deputy Attorney-General to GBA
Legal vacation does not prevent courts from hearing substantive cases or conducting trials, and the decision on whether proceedings should continue rests with the bench rather than lawyers, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has argued.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has defended the ability of courts to hold trials during Ghana's legal vacation, which lasts from August 1 to September 30. The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) disputes this, arguing that vacation courts only handle urgent matters and do not conduct trials. In a letter to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the GBA expressed concern over directives that compel lawyers to appear in court despite their unavailability.
Dr Srem-Sai, however, argues that vacation courts can indeed handle substantive proceedings, including trials. He clarifies that legal vacation reduces the workload of superior courts but does not suspend them. Vacation judges, authorized by the Chief Justice, can hear both interlocutory and substantive cases originating from their own courts.
When handling cases from another judge on vacation, they may focus on interlocutory matters. Dr Srem-Sai maintains that this arrangement prevents unnecessary delays, as cases continue to be processed despite the vacation period.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
