By Jariatu S. Bangura
Members of Parliament have abolished the jury system from the newly amended Criminal Procedure Act of 2024. The new legislation dictates that judges will henceforth determine the judgments of perpetrators in court, following a vote of 65 Ayes to 38 Nays.
This amendment replaces the original 1964 Act, which successive governments have attempted to review. The removal of clause 139, which mandated the mode of trial by a judge rather than by jury, was a significant change in the bill.
The original bill proposed that:
(a) A person charged with a criminal offense at any session of the High Court would be tried by the court with a jury consisting of eight persons, or
(b) Subject to this Act, be tried by a judge alone or by a judge with the aid of assessors.
However, due to the number of cases delayed or dismissed due to jury influence, lawmakers decided trials should be conducted solely by judges.
Opposition Deputy Leader Hon. Daniel Koroma argued for a proviso to ensure judges do not misuse their power, as there are concerns that some judges make decisions based on personal sentiment, career ambitions, or other motivations.
He emphasized the importance of having jurors in court to provide a second opinion before a judgment is made. He acknowledged the challenges of integrity among some citizens but suggested this would be a test case for the judicial system.
The ruling bench argued that the government spends a significant amount of money on jurors, especially in cases like treason, where all jurors must be kept together to ensure proceedings continue without interruption.
Presiding Speaker Hon. Segepor Solomon Thomas stated that the jury system has not been beneficial to the country, as jurors are often influenced by perpetrators, leading to lawlessness. “It is not working for us or other countries, so we need to get rid of it and allow the judge to do his work. Where he fails, we have the power to revisit the laws and make necessary changes,” he said.
