The judiciary of Sierra Leone has failed to comply with the Right to Access to Information Act of 2013, despite multiple requests from the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) for data on case allocations.
Since October 2024, CHRDI has been formally requesting information on the volume of cases assigned to each magistrate and judge from January to October 2024. However, the judiciary has yet to fulfill its legal obligation to provide the requested data.
Under Section 120 (3) of the Sierra Leone Constitution, the judiciary is bound by statutory law and must operate transparently. By not disclosing the requested information, it is violating a fundamental constitutional requirement and raising concerns about the integrity of the legal system.
On January 27, 2025, the judiciary responded in a letter, stating that due to an ongoing transition in administration, it had not yet compiled the requested information. The letter further mentioned that a Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers exists in hard copy and would be uploaded online once the judiciary’s website is functional.
Despite assurances that the information would be provided “within the shortest possible time,” CHRDI has received no further communication since responding to the judiciary’s letter within two working days.
The lack of transparency undermines public trust and raises serious accountability concerns regarding Sierra Leone’s judicial system.
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