South Sudan presidency says deputy chief justice not dismissed from judicial service
March 7, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese presidency said the relieved deputy chief justice of the country’s Supreme Court has not been removed from judicial services, stressing that the changes only affected assignment but not the service.
Presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, told reporters on Monday that the presidential decision removin Kachuol did not remove him from judicial service. Ateny said the action was a normal administrative change for reassignments.
“Justice Madol Arol Kachuol has not been removed from judicial system. He is still part of the judiciary. What has happened is just a change in assignment, which is a normal administrative practice. The leadership will see where he would be assigned when time comes,” explained Ateny.
The presidential aide explained that the constitution permits the president, in consultation with Judicial Service Commission, to appoint and replace the Supreme Court judges, including the chief justice and his deputy.
Kachuol has been one of the longest serving senior judicial officials and known to have presided over many high-profile cases in recent years until when he was appointed as the deputy chief justice.
His appointment, although his credentials were not contested, was received with mixed reactions.
Supporters of the government hailed it as rightful recognition while critics argued it was part of attempts by the government led by President Kiir, who is an ethnic Dinka, to promote ethnic hegemony at the expense of other tribes in the country.
His removal from the position and replacement with judicial official from ethnic Nuer, Judge John Gatwech Lul, has also received mixed reactions. While proponents say the decision is an attempt to balance the composition of the institution, critics are keen to emphasize that the decision was done to polish composition of the judicial system so that it is not seen as predominantly of ethnic Dinka at the apex of the judicial system.
Lul was previously the top Sudanese supreme court judge for the southern region before the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) in 2005.
He has been chairing the anti-corruption commission for many years in South Sudan’s government.
(ST)