Judicial Service Commission to recruit 17 Court of Appeal, High Court judges
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced vacancies for twelve High Court judges and five justices of the Court of Appeal to address staffing shortages in the judiciary. Applicants must meet specific educational and professional criteria, including legal qualifications and experience as judges or advocates.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is seeking to recruit twelve High Court judges and five justices of the Court of Appeal to bridge the human resource gap at the courts for enhanced access to justice.
Dr Rose Nassali Lukwago, the JSC permanent secretary announced the vacancies in an advert released.
JSC is a constitutional body whose mandate includes identifying suitable persons for appointment as judicial and non-judicial officers for all levels of the courts of judicature.
Any person intending to apply for the Court of Appeal jobs must possess an ordinary level certificate, an advanced level certificate, a Bachelor of Laws from a recognized university and a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC).
The applicants for the Court of Appeal jobs should have served as a judge of the High Court or a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters or having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or has practiced as an advocate for a period not less than 10 years in a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters or is a distinguished jurist and an advocate or not less than 10 years standing.
However, any period during which a person has served as a public officer holding an office for which qualification for an advocate is required shall be taken into account in calculating the various periods of practice required.
The advert indicates that any relevant advanced or postgraduate qualification, ICT as well as work experience will be an added advantage for the applicants.
For the High Court jobs, the applicants should in addition to the possession of the academic requirements have been a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or has practiced as an advocate for a period not less than 10 years in a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters.
The advert indicates that the successful applicants for the High Court jobs will serve for a period of two years before they are appointed in a substantive capacity upon performance and evaluation being conducted.
The advert dictates that the applicants should apply for only one position because multiple applications shall lead to disqualification.
The applicants have also been restricted to the attachment of only required documents enclosed as a single document in Portable Document Format (PDF).
The advert indicates that the applicants who will not be contacted by the commission should regard their application as unsuccessful.
It is indicated that the commission will not receive handwritten applications and the intending applicants have been warned against paying money because the process is free of charge.
In every category, after interviews, the JSC will forward the names of the suitable candidates to President Yoweri Museveni for appointment.
Their names will later be forwarded to Parliament for vetting before assuming their duties.
General requirement
The applicants for both positions are required to present copies of their national identity card, a passport-size photograph, an updated curriculum vitae, name, contact, and letters of recommendation of two professional and two-character referees, copies of the academic certificates and transcripts certified by the issuing institutions.
Other documents required include a certified copy of the latest and complete declaration of income, assets, and liabilities from the Inspectorate of Government for applications in the Judiciary and Public Service and the applicant’s self-assessment declaration on competences.
The number of High Court judges has been increased from 83 to 151 and that of the Court of Appeal justices has been increased from 15 to 35 following the Judicature Amendment which has since been assented to by President Yoweri Museveni.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo argues that recruitment of more judicial officers at all levels will not only enhance access to justice in the country but it will also help them reduce the case backlog.
