The Judiciary officially inaugurated the Special Criminal Division of the High Court in Bakau at Mile 7. The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior members of the bench, legal practitioners, and international partners.
In his keynote address, The Honourable Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow lauded the collaborative effort required to bring the project to fruition. He extended profound gratitude to the British High Commission for their logistical and financial support, noting that international partnership remains a pillar of the Gambia’s democratic transition.
The Chief Justice also highlighted the pivotal role of the Gambia Bar Association (GBA). “The legal profession is not merely a witness to the changes but an active architect of them,” Jallow remarked, emphasising that the cooperation of defence and state counsel is essential for the new division’s success.
“The inauguration of the division is not just about a new building; it is about a renewed commitment to the rule of law. We are creating an environment where the rights of the accused are respected through timely trials, and the victims of crime find the closure they deserve.” Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow
The primary mandate of the Special Criminal Division is to expedite the adjudication of serious criminal offences. For years, the Gambian High Court has grappled with a mounting backlog of cases, often leading to prolonged pre-trial detentions in the country’s prisons.
By dedicating a specific division to criminal matters, the Judiciary aims to reduce turnaround times for high-priority criminal trials, decongest the central prison by resolving long-standing cases and enhance the precision of legal outcomes through specialised judicial focus.
