Criminal Court pending cases' issue: JSC recommends to temporarily transfer four judges to court

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended to temporarily transfer two judges from both the Drug and Juvenile Courts to the Criminal Court, to resolve the pending cases’ issue there.

The Criminal Court currently has nine judges.

While JSC has concluded its investigation into the issue, which was launched following complaints from the public, its report has been submitted to parliament. This report includes the amount of pending cases at the court and their details, as well as recommendations to resolve the issue.

The report reveals that there are currently 1,910 pending cases at the Criminal Court, and that after dividing them among the nine judges at the court “each will receive 212 cases.”

It added that even if these judges heard four cases per day “it will take two years and six months to conclude the pending cases.”

Hence it recommended to temporarily transfer two judges each from both the Drug and Juveniles Courts – which will increase the number of judges at the Criminal Court to 13- adding that this will allow the cases to conclude within a year and eight months.

JSC’s report also highlights the reason for the delay in concluding cases at the Criminal Court, including the chief judge’s failure to monitor cases and take action to expedite them.

Further noting that the Criminal Court registrar had informed the commission that cases are assigned “in order of submission,” JSC said that cases were not distributed in a fair manner and without a proper procedure.

The Judicial Service Commission’s report, which notes details of cases submitted until July 14, also recommended for a permanent increase of judges to the Criminal Court bench “so as to conclude and roll cases within 15 to 17 days.”

According to the report, the current pending cases at the Criminal Court has been distributed as:

JSC formed a three-member subcommittee to investigate and compile a report into the delays in court proceedings back in June to assess the court’s current situation.