Lainya Residents Demand Resident Judge

(LAINYA COUNTY) – Residents of Lainya County in Central Equatoria State are requesting the county and state authorities to deploy a resident judge in order to improve access to justice and the application of national laws at the local level.

Community members say that in the absence of a functioning court system, major human rights cases are being handled by customary courts known as “C” courts under the supervision of local chiefs. These cases include serious offences such as rape, murder and physical abuse.

According to residents, such cases are often referred to the high court in Yei River County due to the absence of a high court or any qualified judges stationed in Lainya. However, they say the distance and lack of regular communication make it difficult to follow up on court proceedings and verdicts.

Eresto Malish, a resident of Lainya, said deploying professional judges would strengthen respect for the rule of law and enhance justice delivery in the county. He called on the county commissioner and the state ministry of local government and law enforcement to prioritise the posting of a resident judge in Lainya.

Kakule Moriba, a mother of four, said the absence of judges has limited the ability of women to seek protection through legal mechanisms. She noted that many domestic violence cases require intervention by qualified judicial personnel capable of applying national laws.

Another resident, Morrish Hakim, said the county has remained peaceful in recent months, but that there is still a significant need for a functioning court system within Lainya itself. He expressed concern that referring cases to a high court in another county not only delays justice but also makes it difficult for both victims and defendants to obtain fair hearings.

Efforts to obtain comment from the county commissioner and the state ministry of local government and law enforcement were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Earlier this year, human rights defender and advocate Victor Batali Silas appealed to the national ministry of justice and constitutional affairs, as well as the Judiciary of South Sudan, to ensure the deployment of judges and prosecutors to all counties in Southern Central Equatoria. He said that ensuring the presence of judicial officers at county level would improve justice services and protect the rights of citizens.