“Whenever you encounter a unanimous decision, it tells you that the law is firmly on the side of the court’s” – Chief Justice nominee

On Friday May 26, 2023, Chief Justice nominee Justice Gertrude Torkornoo disputed the idea that the Supreme Court has rendered unjust decisions in response to the title of “Unanimous FC” that has been affixed to it.

When the Supreme Court announces a judgement to be unanimous, Justice Torkornoo noted, it means the position taken by the court is unquestionably supported by the law. She made a point of stating that this does not imply bias but rather represents the legal position in a particular case.

“Whenever you encounter a unanimous decision, it tells you that the law is firmly on the side of the court’s position. Every member of the court, in adherence to their judicial oath, cannot hold a different position. It signifies that this is what the law dictates,” Judge Torkornoo declared.

She went on to stress that judges behave impartially when performing their judicial duties.

“It is unfortunate that this perception has persisted. Our work is highly technical, and sometimes people lose cases because they fail to comply with court rules, rules of evidence, or substantive legal principles. They lose the case and fail to understand why,” she explained.

“Law school is difficult because the law is complex. Therefore, when people lose cases, they frequently question why and develop numerous theories,” she continued.

The phrase “unanimous FC” refers to Supreme Court decisions, notably when the justices of the court dismiss political cases presented before it as a whole. The 2020 election petition is one instance of this.

Former president John Dramani Mahama issued a warning against the widespread belief that the judiciary is politically biased in September 2022. If people aren’t making fun of politics or suggesting that inducements are being used to affect the course of justice in lower courts, he observed, “they are making fun of the 7-0 decision of the ‘Unanimous FC’.” He said these things in a meeting with the legal counsel for NDC.

In summation, Justice Torkornoo explained what a unanimous decision meant and emphasized the technical nature of legal proceedings, emphasizing that there is no justification for the appearance of bias in the judicial system.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com