Challenging CJ appointment is about protecting rule of law: GBA
Speaking in an interview, on the Coffee Time, Cham said the GBA had no personal objection to the newly appointed Chief Justice and stressed that the case is about ensuring that constitutional requirements are respected. “This was not about him, the point is the law must be respected there are no exceptions. Equality before the law.” Cham said the association became concerned after learning that Senior Counsel Mr. Faal, was being considered for the position of Chief Justice, believing he did not meet the qualifications set out under Section 139 of the Constitution. She noted that the GBA first sought dialogue by writing to President Adama Barrow, the Attorney General and the Judicial Service Commission before turning to the courts. “We don’t rush to court, you advise, you try to negotiate before, court is the last resort,” she said. According to Cham, the Judicial Service Commission acknowledged receiving the association’s letter, but the President and the Attorney General did not respond despite follow-up correspondence. “The complete silence is what has brought us to where we are,” she said, adding that the matter could have been resolved through engagement. Responding to suggestions that the lawsuit is politically motivated, Cham firmly rejected the claim, saying the GBA has remained independent throughout its existence. “We are very independent we do not enter into politics we try to be objective we guard our independence jealously because that is the only way we can advocate for the administration of justice.” She said the association would have taken the same position regardless of who had been nominated. “If any other legal practitioner were in this position, you will see exactly the same stance.” Cham argued that remaining silent over what the association believes is non compliance with the Constitution would undermine its credibility and its mandate to defend the rule of law. “We cannot compromise the constitutional requirement to abide by the laws of this land, when we raise concerns, there is always something there. We can be wrong, but there should be dialogue.” She added that the challenge should be seen as part of a healthy democratic process, saying the Supreme Court now has the opportunity to interpret the constitutional provisions governing appointments to the country’s highest judicial office. “The GBA will remain steadfast in carrying out our mandate, the public should see this as the exercise of democracy and the rule of law, not politics.”
Black News 
Speaking in an interview, on the Coffee Time, Cham said the GBA had no personal objection to the newly appointed Chief Justice and stressed that the case is about ensuring that constitutional requirements are respected.
“This was not about him, the point is the law must be respected there are no exceptions. Equality before the law.”
Cham said the association became concerned after learning that Senior Counsel Mr. Faal, was being considered for the position of Chief Justice, believing he did not meet the qualifications set out under Section 139 of the Constitution. She noted that the GBA first sought dialogue by writing to President Adama Barrow, the Attorney General and the Judicial Service Commission before turning to the courts.
“We don’t rush to court, you advise, you try to negotiate before, court is the last resort,” she said.
According to Cham, the Judicial Service Commission acknowledged receiving the association’s letter, but the President and the Attorney General did not respond despite follow-up correspondence.
“The complete silence is what has brought us to where we are,” she said, adding that the matter could have been resolved through engagement.
Responding to suggestions that the lawsuit is politically motivated, Cham firmly rejected the claim, saying the GBA has remained independent throughout its existence.
“We are very independent we do not enter into politics we try to be objective we guard our independence jealously because that is the only way we can advocate for the administration of justice.”
She said the association would have taken the same position regardless of who had been nominated.
“If any other legal practitioner were in this position, you will see exactly the same stance.”
Cham argued that remaining silent over what the association believes is non compliance with the Constitution would undermine its credibility and its mandate to defend the rule of law.
“We cannot compromise the constitutional requirement to abide by the laws of this land, when we raise concerns, there is always something there. We can be wrong, but there should be dialogue.”
She added that the challenge should be seen as part of a healthy democratic process, saying the Supreme Court now has the opportunity to interpret the constitutional provisions governing appointments to the country’s highest judicial office.
“The GBA will remain steadfast in carrying out our mandate, the public should see this as the exercise of democracy and the rule of law, not politics.”
