By Yankuba Jallow
Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow on Tuesday, 20 July 2026, bid farewell to the judiciary after nearly a decade as The Gambia’s head of the judiciary, describing his retirement as the end of almost 50 years of public service in The Gambia and internationally.
Speaking at a farewell ceremony attended by senior government officials, judges, diplomats, lawyers, family members, many well-wishers and members of the judiciary, Justice Jallow reflected on a career that took him through all three branches of government, international criminal justice institutions and, ultimately, the country’s highest judicial office.
The ceremony began with tributes from colleagues before Justice Jallow delivered what organisers described as an opportunity “for reflection upon an extraordinary journey, an expression of gratitude to those who shared that journey, and a final message from a Chief Justice whose tenure has become part of the constitutional and judicial history of our nation.”
Among those present were the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, judges of the Superior Courts, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, the Gambia Bar Association, the Gambia Law Society, the Judicial Service Commission, the General Legal Council and staff of the judiciary.
Justice Jallow said the occasion marked the conclusion of “half a century of public service in The Gambia and across the globe.”
“I feel greatly honoured by the ceremony organised here today to bid me farewell as I prepare for retirement from the office of Chief Justice a few days hence,” he said.
He thanked members of the judiciary, lawyers, government officials, development partners, the diplomatic community and his family for supporting him throughout his years in office.
“It has always been a collective effort by many of us working together,” he said. “I thank each and every one of you for your support, for your collaboration which has greatly facilitated my tenure as Chief Justice.”
Justice Jallow also expressed appreciation for the farewell events organised in his honour.
“My family and I greatly appreciate the great lengths and the sacrifices which you have gone and undertaken to give a fitting farewell,” he said. “Above all, we appreciate the kindness, the generosity and the love demonstrated by your actions.”
Throughout his address, the Chief Justice repeatedly credited his achievements to collective effort rather than personal accomplishment.
“It has been a long journey for justice, but I was not alone on the way. We all walked it together.”
He also thanked Allah, his late parents and members of his family for their support throughout his career.
Paying tribute to his wife, who was unable to attend the ceremony, Justice Jallow said she had remained a constant source of strength throughout his public service.
“I cannot adequately express my appreciation for the immense and uninterrupted support that she has constantly provided in The Gambia, and everywhere I journeyed. Through thick and thin, through good and through hard times, she has been and continues to be a source of strength.”
Justice Jallow traced his public service career to 1976, when he joined the Ministry of Justice. He later served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice under former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, as an ex-officio member of the then House of Representatives, and returned in 2017 as Chief Justice under President Adama Barrow.
He also reflected on his international work, saying his career had allowed him to contribute to justice and accountability beyond The Gambia.
He referred to his work with the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Justice Jallow also highlighted his involvement in international criminal justice following conflicts in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and the former Yugoslavia.
“It’s been a journey that gave me the opportunity to contribute to justice and accountability in the aftermath of the great tragedies of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes,” he said.
Returning to The Gambia in 2016, he said, brought his career full circle.
“With my return to The Gambia in 2016 and my assumption of office in 2017, we are back to where it all began.”
The Chief Justice recalled a personal moment involving Justice Saho, who had helped organise his farewell.
“When I was entering public service, it was your father who welcomed me,” he said. “Today you are now in charge of arranging my departure from the office of Chief Justice.”
Reflecting on his years leading the judiciary, Justice Jallow said it had been a privilege to participate in rebuilding democratic institutions following the political transition of 2017.
“It has been a great honour to have been part of the national process since 2017 to restore The Gambia’s past glory in governance and the rule of law.”
He described an independent and efficient judiciary as an essential pillar of democratic governance and said strengthening the justice system had remained one of the country’s most important national objectives.
During his tenure, he said, the judiciary focused on strengthening judicial independence, improving access to justice, expanding court infrastructure, building institutional capacity, improving human resources and introducing technology into court administration.
“The achievements registered in the past decade are our common legacy,” he said.
He added that significant work remained to be done and described the responsibility of improving the justice system as one shared by government, the judiciary, lawyers, civil society and the public.
Justice Jallow said deciding cases remained one of the most demanding responsibilities entrusted to judicial officers.
“The discharge of the judicial function to adjudicate between competing claimants… is one of the most difficult tasks any person can be called upon to undertake.”
He said judges were required to analyse disputed facts, apply the law correctly and deliver judgments transparently while remaining subject to public scrutiny.
He also reflected on the wider responsibilities carried by the Chief Justice, who not only presides over the Supreme Court but also oversees the administration of the judiciary, chairs key judicial institutions and manages judicial appointments and discipline.
Despite those challenges, Justice Jallow said judges should always remember the importance of their work.
“I have always reminded myself… that doing justice is also doing God’s work.”
He said judicial officers who faithfully administered justice should look beyond financial rewards.
“I am deeply convinced that those who properly do God’s work on this earth, as judicial officers do, can reasonably look for a higher reward from the Almighty if they deliver true justice, if they wipe the tears from the faces of the oppressed, if they establish truth and cause justice to prevail.”
Justice Jallow also spoke about his religious responsibilities as Caliph of a Sufi Tariqa of Tijaniyya, saying he viewed his judicial and spiritual roles as complementary.
“I see them as simply two sides of the same coin,” he said.
“The same coin that is dedicated to truth, dedicated to justice and dedicated to peace.”
Looking ahead, Justice Jallow welcomed his successor and urged all stakeholders to protect the independence of the judiciary.
“No national heritage or legacy can provide a stronger and more durable foundation for future generations than a good and working framework for the rule of law based on an independent and efficient machinery of justice.”
He said justice, peace and national development are inseparable.
“Without justice there is no peace, and without peace there can be no progress.”
Justice Jallow urged Gambians to renew their commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.
“Let us make equality and equal protection of the law our guide and our compass,” he said.
“Let us allow, whatever our status, the law to be above all of us.”
He added: “All supremacy rests only with the law and only with the Constitution.”
The retiring Chief Justice also emphasised that judicial independence must continue to be defended by judges, lawyers, civil society, government and the wider public.
He praised the Barrow administration for respecting judicial independence.
“The nation is fortunate to have enjoyed, under the current leadership of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, an administration that has respected the independence of the judiciary, accepting and implementing judicial decisions against it and not interfering with the judicial process.”
At the same time, he warned against complacency.
“We should not, as the saying goes, rest on our laurels.”
Justice Jallow said judicial independence, impartiality and excellence must continue to guide the administration of justice.
“Justice is only so if it is delivered by adjudicators who are guided and influenced only by the law, only by the evidence and only by their innermost conscience.”
He said judicial impartiality required fairness, absence of bias and adherence to the judicial oath to act “without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”
He also called for continued investment in court infrastructure, technology and judicial services to improve access to justice and the efficiency of the courts.
As he concluded his address, Justice Jallow thanked President Adama Barrow for appointing him Chief Justice and for supporting the judiciary during his tenure.
He also thanked his fellow judges, judicial staff, lawyers, civil society organisations, development partners and officials of the Ministry of Justice.
“I will never totally go away,” he said.
“My heart, my thoughts, my prayers will always remain with justice and with good governance and with this nation.”
He expressed confidence that The Gambia would continue to strengthen the rule of law and democratic governance.
“But I depart with the very firm conviction that together we can and we will, Inshallah, strengthen this country as a nation of justice, as a nation of respect for the rule of law and human rights, and a nation for good government.”
He ended his speech by saying: “God bless The Gambia.”
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