By Roselyn Ganyaglo
The Ghana Bar Association, GBA, has endorsed the directive by the Chief Justice to ALL trial judges, to hear cases of senior lawyers according to the role of lawyers first. A statement by the GBA said it fully lends support to the call for adherence to the age-old tradition and practice of calling cases of persons, whose names are on the Roll of Lawyers, in order of seniority of enrolment, notwithstanding the notion of equality at the Bar.
The Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin-Yeboah on April 11 issued a circular to judges indicating that young lawyers need to learn from their senior colleagues and urged judges to first call cases of lawyers according to the roll of lawyers on enrollment. GBA says this reminder presents a unique and special opportunity for Lawyers, particularly those relatively young at the Bar, to learn from the rich experience of senior Lawyers, especially the advocacy skills of such senior Lawyers to hone their lawyering skills.
The GBA says it has taken note of the various shades of comments and opinions expressed by different persons and wishes to inform ALL Lawyers that the directive by the Chief Justice is also the decision of the General Legal Council. Consequently, the GBA implores ALL Lawyers who practice in the Courts of Ghana to fully cooperate with trial judges in upholding this age-old tradition and practice as Lawyers stand a great chance of benefiting immensely from the same.
