The externs in professional mode

Thursday 3 May 2012

Is This Justice

The incredible delay in the legal system does not only apply to court proceedings, but extends even to the mechanisms that should facilitate trial. It is not uncommon for children in the remand home not to appear in court for several days because those that are responsible for the transport to and fro the remand home can not do so because there is no fuel for the vehicle. It is unbelievable to know that children are deprived of their right to trial or appear in court on the adjourned date because of a lack of fuel, the cost of which is approximately $5 per gallon and $1 per liter.  It is not only the the accused that are deprived of having justice, even the victims who are present to see those suspected and charged of having committed a crime proven guilty or otherwise experience the delays in justice first hand. In the case of victims, especially those those who have been sexually abused or assaulted, they often get tired of regularly attending court without any proceeding being held.  As a result of their frustration many of them resort to settling it domestically by being offered money, while others abandon the process and stop coming altogether. Even the accused, who is often kept in detention for a very long time without significant time in front of a judge tends to become frustrated by the process.  This chaos has a flow on effect; as the victims stop attending court, so do the witnesses. This results in the accused attending court multiple times without representation of the victims, often giving the judge no option but to acquit the accused of the alleged crimes altogether. This begs the question - is this justice? Written by Anrite

2 comments:

  1. Hello,

    I've enjoyed reading your blog!

    I'm an American law student, and I'm trying to find information about the different standards African law schools have for externship programs. Do you get course credit from your school for your externship? If so, how are you graded? Is there a link you could give me with this information, or could we email abut it?

    Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rebecca

      Great to hear from you! Thanks for reading the blog and for your interest.

      Our externship programme is currently an NGO supported one which means there is no course credit and no grading (just informal evaluation by the host placement and clinic director).

      Please email advocaid@gmail.com if you would like more information.

      Best wishes

      Sabrina Mahtani (Clinic Director)

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