Judges assigned cases by Chief Justice - ministry

It was the Chief Justice who, according to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, assigned cases to judges, the Justice Ministry said. This was done to ensure and protect the independence of the judiciary.

Replying to a statement issued yesterday by Opposition Justice spokesman Jose Herrera, who said the Opposition was concerned over the assignment of certain cases in court, and with how some judges were being excluded from deciding particular cases, giving the impression of 'forum shopping', the ministry said that any allegation that the government was, in one way or another, involved in the allocation of duties to judges was unfounded and wrong.

It pointed out that the law gave the Chief Justice such powers with the aim of achieving better distribution and organisation. So a number of members of the judiciary were being assigned cases related to specific subjects.

A magistrate was in fact assigned all libel cases and constitutional cases were being distributed to a number of judges with four not getting any because they were assigned other cases.

This system was increasing efficiency and reducing delays

The ministry said it had complete confidence in the way the Chief Justice distributed duties to judges and believed he was doing his job in the best interest of justice.