By: Haddy Touray
Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow on Monday marked the end of a 54-year judicial career, describing his retirement as the conclusion of “a long journey for justice” and urging Gambians to preserve the rule of law as the country’s most important national legacy.
Justice Jallow made the remarks during a farewell ceremony organised by the Judiciary in Banjul ahead of his retirement on 1 August.
The ceremony brought together senior government officials, including the Speaker of the National Assembly, members of Cabinet, judges, diplomats, representatives of the Gambia Bar Association and members of his family to honour a career that covered national and international judicial service.
“It has been a long journey for justice, but I was not alone on the way. We all walked it together, and I believe we journeyed far, and we journeyed reasonably well,” Justice Jallow said.
Justice Jallow, who was appointed Chief Justice in 2017, reflected on a career that began in 1976 as a state counsel at the Ministry of Justice and later saw him serve as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as an ex-officio member of the National Assembly.
He returned to The Gambia after years of international service to lead the Supreme Court during a critical period of democratic transition.
Beyond The Gambia, Justice Jallow gained international recognition for his contribution to international criminal justice, including his role as Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
He also contributed to accountability initiatives linked to Sierra Leone and the former Yugoslavia and worked with institutions including the Organisation of African Unity, later the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations on justice and governance issues.
Reflecting on his tenure as Chief Justice, Justice Jallow said restoring public confidence in the Judiciary became a priority following the democratic transition in 2017.
He said the Judiciary focused on strengthening judicial independence, expanding court facilities, improving human resources and introducing technology to modernise court administration.
The reforms, he added, were aimed at improving access to justice and ensuring cases are resolved fairly and within a reasonable timeframe.
Justice Jallow described judicial responsibility as one of the most demanding roles in public service, noting that judges operate under constant public scrutiny while making decisions that affect people’s lives.
He also highlighted the constitutional responsibilities of the Chief Justice, including the administration of courts, regulation of the legal profession through the General Legal Council and supervision of senior judicial officials through the Judicial Service Commission.
In his farewell remarks, Justice Jallow expressed gratitude to God, his family, the Judiciary, the legal profession, government institutions and international partners for their support throughout his career.
He also reflected on the connection between his professional responsibilities and religious beliefs, describing the administration of justice as being closely linked to the pursuit of truth, justice and peace.
Justice Jallow urged Gambians to protect democratic institutions and safeguard the independence of the justice system.
“No national heritage or legacy can provide a stronger and more durable foundation for future generations than a good and working framework for the rule of law, based on an independent and efficient machinery of justice,” he said.
“Without justice there is no peace, and without peace there can be no progress,” he added.
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