Balance Judicial Duty With Family Life – CJ To Judges

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called upon judges and magistrates to strike a balance between their judicial responsibilities and personal lives, emphasizing that the judiciary should not demand their complete surrender of humanity. Addressing participants at the 45th Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) in Accra, the Chief Justice noted that discussions about the judiciary often concentrate on case backlogs, efficiency, independence, technology, and access to justice, but frequently overlook the individuals responsible for administering justice.

The Chief Justice highlighted that behind each judgment lies a human being who must read, listen, deliberate, and decide, making judicial work a particularly demanding task. He underscored that the challenges faced by judges and magistrates include intellectual discipline, emotional restraint, patience, and courage, but cautioned against allowing the weight of their office to consume their personal lives.

The Chief Justice warned against a culture where constant exhaustion is seen as a measure of commitment and urged judicial officers to maintain a balance between their duties and personal relationships, ensuring they remain healthy and well-grounded to effectively perform their responsibilities. He further emphasized that caring for one's wellbeing is an essential aspect of the judicial profession, as sound judgment is crucial for the administration of justice.

The Chief Justice also stressed that the welfare of judges and the needs of court users should be viewed as complementary responsibilities, with better conditions for judicial officers not being an indulgence but a necessity for maintaining judicial independence, institutional integrity, and the quality of justice. The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, echoed the Chief Justice's sentiments, emphasizing that the pursuit of balance between judicial duties and personal life should not be mistaken for a retreat from duty.

He stressed that creating a conducive environment for judicial officers to discharge their responsibilities sustainably, effectively, and with clarity of mind is essential for delivering justice. However, he cautioned against misunderstanding such balance as a means to evade accountability, insisting that judicial independence must be coupled with responsibility and performance.

The President of the AMJG, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, pointed out that judicial officers in Ghana continue to face significant resource constraints, including the lack of vehicles, unpaid allowances, and delayed financial clearances for engaging support staff. She called for appropriate working conditions, security, healthcare, reasonable workloads, sufficient administrative support, and opportunities for rest and professional development to enable magistrates and judges to perform their constitutional mandate effectively while maintaining the balance necessary for healthy and fulfilling lives.