Prevent jurors from serving in multiple courts-CJ directs in light of 2025 criminal assizes

Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has issued a directive to court registrars across Ghana, ensuring that no juror is assigned to more than one court during the 2025 criminal assizes, which began today nationwide.

At the opening of the session in Accra, the Chief Justice stressed the importance of this directive to facilitate efficient and expedited trials. She emphasized that jurors must not be placed on more than one court's list to prevent conflicts of interest, ensuring that each trial proceeds smoothly.

Additionally, she mandated that trials be conducted daily and conclude promptly, preventing delays and ensuring that new cases can be heard without interruption.

The Chief Justice reiterated the need for judges to follow the Effective Case Completion Planning Strategies of 2019 and the Practice Direction on Jury Trials, which came into effect in May 2024. These measures aim to streamline the judicial process and enhance the delivery of justice.

As part of the reforms, the jury pool has been expanded to include citizens from the private sector, marking a shift away from the traditional reliance on public sector clerical staff and teachers.

Other reforms introduced for the 2025 criminal assizes include daily hearings, full prosecution disclosures prior to jury empanelment, and the use of assessors for certain cases to reduce the jury burden. Juror and defendant attendance will be strictly enforced, with improved coordination between the police and prison officers to ensure timely appearances and evidence presentation. Witness attendance can also be mandated as necessary.

These reforms aim to bring increased fairness, transparency, and efficiency to Ghana's criminal justice system.