By Yankuba Jallow
The Judiciary of The Gambia on Tuesday paid tribute to Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow at a farewell ceremony marking his retirement after nearly a decade as the country’s Chief Justice and almost 50 years of public service nationally and internationally.
The ceremony was held yesterday and was attended by senior government officials, judges, lawyers, diplomats, development partners, members of the legal profession, religious leaders and the Chief Justice’s family. It was described as a historic occasion marking the voluntary retirement of the first Gambian Chief Justice to serve until retirement.
Justice Wright of the High Court, who served as Master of Ceremony, welcomed guests and described the occasion as one of profound institutional significance. Addressing the gathering, Justice Wright said the ceremony was an opportunity not only to mark the end of an illustrious judicial career but also to celebrate a lifetime dedicated to justice, the rule of law and public service.
“As we gather on this solemn and historic occasion to honour a life of distinguished legal and judicial service, it is fitting that we begin by seeking the guidance, grace and blessing of Almighty God,” Justice Wright said.
“The administration of justice is a sacred public trust. It calls for wisdom in judgement, courage in the defence of principle, humility in the exercise of authority and compassion in the service of humanity.”
The programme began with Islamic prayers led by the Imam Ratib of Banjul, followed by Christian prayers offered by Father Joseph Kuli.
Father Kuli thanked God for the life and service of the retiring Chief Justice and prayed for continued blessings upon him and his family.
“We thank you for the life, service, and distinguished leadership of the Honourable Chief Justice whom we honour today as he retires from the high office entrusted to him,” he prayed.
“We are grateful for the wisdom, strength, courage, and grace you have bestowed upon him throughout his years of dedicated service to the judiciary and to our nation.”
The priest also prayed for members of the judiciary, urging God to grant them wisdom, impartiality and integrity in administering justice.
“Bless our judiciary and all who serve in it. Grant wisdom, courage, impartiality and integrity to all judicial officials, lawyers and those entrusted with the administration of justice. May they always uphold truth, fairness and the dignity of every human person.”
Following the prayers, Justice Wright reflected on the significance of the occasion, describing it as an important moment in the country’s democratic development.
“We gather to acknowledge, appreciate and bid farewell to our Chief Justice as he bows out in retirement,” she said.
“It is a unique occasion, and I do not think that we have done this before. For we have not had the privilege of having our own Gambian Chief Justice serve our nation to retirement and leave voluntarily.”
She said the event illustrated the progress made by The Gambia over the past decade.
“The fact that we are doing that now shows how far we have leaped from just less than ten years ago.”
Justice Wright described Chief Justice Jallow as an exceptional jurist whose service had extended beyond The Gambia to Africa, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
“This little Gambia gave of its best to Africa, to the Commonwealth and to the United Nations,” she said.
Recalling her own experience at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where Justice Jallow served as Prosecutor, she narrated how one of her former colleagues described his style of leadership.
“I recall a former colleague of mine at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where our Chief Justice served as Prosecutor, once said to me that when the heads of higher teams met with the then Prosecutor, everyone would discuss their different views, and the Chief Justice would just listen quietly. When he intervened, all arguments stopped because he would go straight to the issues that needed to be decided.”
Justice Wright also praised the retiring Chief Justice for protecting the independence of judges throughout his tenure.
“I believe that counsel from both the public and the private Bar will agree with me that during his tenure we as judges and legal officers experienced total independence in the execution of our solemn duty of judging.”
She said no judge had ever been instructed by the Chief Justice on how to decide a case.
“Not once did the Chief Justice ever call me to say, ‘I want you to deliver your judgment in this particular case this way or that.’”
Justice Wright said his leadership had strengthened the judiciary through institutional renewal, judicial education, expanded access to justice and modernisation of court administration.
She described him as “an eminent jurist, an accomplished scholar, a respected international intellectual and professional, and a distinguished public servant whose remarkable career has traversed national and international frontiers.”
According to her, the Chief Justice’s legacy extended beyond judicial reforms.
“He remained humble. A mentor, a colleague, a source of inspiration to generations of judicial officers, lawyers, public servants and young people aspiring to serve this country and the world.”
Justice Wright also paid tribute to Mrs Fatou Diallo, wife of the Chief Justice, for supporting him throughout his international and national assignments.
“My particular personal appreciation goes to Mrs Fatou Diallo, who stood by his lordship through thick and thin in The Gambia and abroad,” she said.
“For those of us who worked with him in Arusha, Tanzania, we recall her humility, her open house where we were always welcome. She was a mother to our children. She was a sister to all of us.”
Justice Wright said the Chief Justice’s family had made enormous sacrifices to enable him serve both The Gambia and the international community.
Following the opening remarks, the President of the Judicial Support Staff Association, Abou Marigo, delivered a farewell message on behalf of judiciary staff.
Mr Marigo described the Chief Justice as a leader who transformed not only the institution but also the lives of those who worked within it.
“I stand before you today with a heart full of gratitude and also with a heavy heart on behalf of the Judicial Support Staff Association to bid farewell to a great leader, a father and a mentor.”
He said the retiring Chief Justice recognised the contribution of every member of staff, regardless of position.
“Justice is also delivered in the registry, by the clerks who meticulously manage every court file, by the interpreters who faithfully translate languages in the courtroom, by the bailiffs who preserve order and dignity, by the ICT officers who keep the digital systems running, by the cleaners who ensure that every courtroom reflects the solemnity of justice, by the drivers who serve faithfully at all hours and by every support staff member whose dedication keeps the wheels of justice running.”
“You never regarded us as invisible. You recognised us as indispensable.”
Mr Marigo said one of the Chief Justice’s greatest strengths was his respect for all staff members.
“You walked through our offices, you asked us about our welfare, you treated the last among us with the same respect you accorded the head of department.”
He said judiciary staff benefited from training opportunities, promotions and professional development under Justice Jallow’s leadership.
“You championed capacity building. Many of us benefited from trainings, promotions and opportunities we had never thought possible.”
Mr Marigo added that the Chief Justice constantly reminded staff of the importance of integrity.
“You preached integrity. No shortcuts, no favours, do the right thing. Those words echo in every corridor and every courtroom because of you.”
He described the Chief Justice as calm under pressure and praised his leadership style.
“We will remember how calm you were under pressure, how wise your counsel was and how human you remained despite the weight of the office.”
“As you exit this office, please know that you are leaving behind more than judgments and reform. You are leaving behind a family, the support staff family that you inspired to work with purpose.”
Mr Marigo concluded by thanking the Chief Justice for his service and wishing him a peaceful retirement.
“We will miss your morning greetings, your fatherly advice and your unwavering commitment to justice.”
Justice Wright, responding after the address, said she fully agreed with Mr Marigo’s remarks.
“I do agree with you, Mr Marigo, that the Chief Justice has this ability. I don’t know how he does it. He knows every staff member’s name, acknowledges them and always has a kind word.”
She said the trait had followed Justice Jallow throughout his career.
“That did not start here. I can testify to that from our days at the Ministry of Justice, to our days in Arusha, Tanzania, and here at the judiciary.”
The ceremony also heard a tribute from the President of the Gambia Law Society, Lamin K. Mboge, who described the retirement as a landmark event in the country’s constitutional history.
“We are gathered here today to honour the departure of one of the greatest legal luminaries in the history of The Gambia and the continent of Africa as a whole,” he said.
Mr Mboge thanked President Adama Barrow for appointing Justice Jallow as Chief Justice and acknowledged the presence of members of the judiciary, the National Assembly and the legal profession.
He described the retirement as a milestone for democracy and judicial independence.
“Today we are gathered here to mark a very, very important occasion. A great day for the history of The Gambia. A day that the first Gambian Chief Justice is retiring voluntarily from office.”
“It is a day that marks a great day for the success of the democracy that we have built for the past decade.”
He also said Justice Jallow’s judicial decisions had become an important source of legal authority.
“If I want to find a word to describe the knowledge that we are losing today, I hope my lord will not go with the encyclopedia of words and phrases and meanings together with him.”
Mr Mboge described Justice Jallow as “a towering figure in the dispensation of justice in The Gambia” and praised his five decades of legal service, saying his leadership had strengthened the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
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