The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and Rehabilitation and of Law and Constitutional Affairs has established Ad hoc judges to speed up judgments in the courts of law.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Motloheloa Phooko said the Ministry has judge clerks, who will assist in reducing work load on judges by conducting researches on cases before judgments are passed.

He said judges take time to pass on judgments because they had to make thorough researches on each case before passing on a judgment and that process prolonged judgments to be delivered.

'After sentence has been made, a judge sits down to make thorough research in order to make a fair judgment,' he commented.

The Minister was responding on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Human Rights to a question asked by the late Basotho National Party representative in the National Assembly, Mr. Phale Mokoena. Mr. Mokoena had inquired to know circumstances under which delay in delivering judgments take places.

He also asked how soon they will be dealt with to improve the administration of justice in the country. This follows closure of hearings in civil cases.

Source: LENA 19/10/2007