Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow on Monday formally marked the end of a distinguished legal and judicial career spanning more than five decades, describing his retirement as the conclusion of “a long journey for justice” and calling on Gambians to protect the rule of law as the country’s most enduring national legacy.
Justice Jallow is expected to retire on August 1. Speaking at a farewell ceremony organised by the Judiciary in Banjul, he reflected on 54 years of public service, beginning as a young state counsel at the Ministry of Justice and culminating in his leadership of The Gambia’s highest court.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cabinet ministers, judges, diplomats, representatives of the Gambia Bar Association, members of the legal profession and his family.
“It has been a long journey for justice, but I was not alone on the way,” Justice Jallow said. “We all walked it together, and I believe we journeyed far, and we journeyed reasonably well.”
Justice Jallow, who was appointed Chief Justice in 2017, said his retirement brought to a close a lifetime devoted to public service in The Gambia and abroad.
He began his legal career in 1976 as a state counsel at the Ministry of Justice. He later served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice and as an ex officio member of the National Assembly. After several years of international service, he returned to The Gambia to lead the Judiciary during a crucial period in the country’s democratic transition.
Internationally, Justice Jallow became widely recognised for his contribution to criminal justice and accountability. He served as Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and contributed to justice initiatives concerning Sierra Leone and the former Yugoslavia.
He also worked with institutions including the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations in promoting justice, accountability and good governance.
Throughout his farewell address, Justice Jallow credited others for the achievements recorded during his career. He thanked God for guiding him and expressed appreciation to his wife and family for what he described as their immense and uninterrupted support.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the Judiciary, the legal profession, the government and international development partners.
Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Justice, he said rebuilding public confidence in the courts became an immediate priority following the democratic transition of 2017.
According to him, the Judiciary worked to strengthen judicial independence, expand court infrastructure, improve staffing and introduce technology to modernise court administration. These reforms, he said, were intended to improve access to justice and ensure that cases were determined fairly and within a reasonable period.
Justice Jallow described judging as one of the most demanding responsibilities in public service because judicial decisions are delivered publicly and constantly subjected to scrutiny.
He noted that the Chief Justice is not only responsible for deciding cases but also has constitutional duties relating to the administration of the courts, regulation of the legal profession through the General Legal Council and supervision of senior judicial personnel through the Judicial Service Commission.
He also reflected on the connection between his judicial responsibilities and religious life, saying he regarded the administration of justice as an extension of his faith.
Justice Jallow said his roles as Chief Justice and Caliph of a Sufi Tariqa were “two sides of the same coin,” both founded on the pursuit of truth, justice and peace.
In his closing remarks, he urged Gambians to preserve the country’s democratic institutions and defend the independence and effectiveness of the justice system for future generations.
“No national heritage or legacy can provide a stronger and more durable foundation for future generations than a good and working framework for the rule of law, based on an independent and efficient machinery of justice,” he said.
“Without justice there is no peace, and without peace there can be no progress.”
