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NOVEMBER 2011

Environmental Law Workshop, Jamaica

The CMJA together with the Jamaican Environmental Commission held a Workshop on Environmental law for judicial officers in the Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The CMJA former Director of Programmes, HH Judge Keith Hollis, facilitated and organised the programme.

OCTOBER 2011

"The Role of the East African Judiciaries in the electoral process"- Entebbe, Uganda

The CMJA was represented by the Secretary General and the Hon. Treasurer at the East African Magistrates and Judges Conference which took place in Entebbe, Uganda from 10-14 October 2011. The Theme of the Conference was: "The Role of the East African Judiciaries in the electoral process".

Judicial officers from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda attended the Conference as well as representatives from the electoral commissions from East Africa. In addition there were
observers from the East African Court and from Zambia. Judicial officers around the world have seen an increase in their involvement in elections through the increase in election petitions.

The lack of independence of electoral commissions, the lack of training of polling agents and the staff involved in elections, the delays in hearings of election petitions were all issues which were raised at the Conference. The Chief Justice of Uganda, Justice Odoki in opening the Conference pointed out that judicial officers play an essential part in ensuring electoral justice. Even though jurisprudence in this area is not as developed as other fields of law, "Courts have a duty to inspire confidence …. that any disputes can be handled expeditiously, transparently, fairly and honestly", He spoke about the recent work undertaken to create a set of standards to guide developments in the area of Electoral Justice and which outlines the main principles which need to be in operation and which those involved in the electoral process should follow. A copy of the Principles is available from TIRI at: www.tiri.org

In their recommendations at the conclusion of the meeting they agreed that they would try and make electoral justice more effective. Click here for a copy of the recommendations from the Conference.

JULY 2011

"Judicial Independence - Diversity, Pluralism and Challenges in the Commonwealth".

CMJA Conference
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

18-21 July 2011

The CMJA held its Conference in 2011 at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Click here for further details on the Conference.