Judge urges lawyers to challenge rulings through legal processes, not public attacks
A Circuit Court judge has called on lawyers and politicians to exercise restraint when criticising court decisions, warning that personal attacks on judges risk undermining confidence in the justice system.
Speaking at the inauguration of the KAAF University Faculty of Law Advisory Board, Presiding Judge of Adenta Circuit Court 1, Her Honour Angela Attachie, said disagreements with judicial decisions should be addressed through appeals and other lawful procedures rather than through public criticism, threats or intimidation.
She stressed that the legal system already provides mechanisms for reviewing decisions and resolving disputes, making it unnecessary for lawyers to attack judges personally when they disagree with a ruling.
According to her, judges are expected to decide cases based on the evidence and legal arguments presented before them, regardless of the personalities involved.
Her Honour Attachie revealed that she has personally been subjected to threats and public criticism over some of her decisions, citing the high-profile case involving NPP communicator Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye. She said some individuals targeted her despite the fact that the matter in question had never been heard before her court.
The judge disclosed that concerns about her safety had forced her to move with security protection, an arrangement not ordinarily provided for judges at her level.
She also criticised what she described as a growing tendency among some lawyer-politicians to litigate matters in the media rather than pursuing available legal remedies through the courts.
The remarks were delivered during a ceremony to inaugurate the advisory board of KAAF University’s Faculty of Law, a body expected to provide guidance and strategic direction for legal education at the institution.
Representatives of the board said they would work closely with the university to strengthen legal training and help position the faculty as a centre for excellence.
Speaking at the event, KAAF University Council Chair Professor K. B. Omane-Antwi underscored the need for legal education that prioritises ethics and integrity, arguing that public trust in the legal profession depends largely on the conduct of those who practise it.
He said the university’s law programme is designed not only to train competent lawyers but also to develop professionals capable of providing principled leadership in society.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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