Lawyer’s Society has issued a press release, demanding for the reversal of the ongoing suspension the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Bami Halloway’s as well as a probe into the allegations initially made by the suspended Judge against the Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda.
On Tuesday, September 16th, 2025, the Office of the President issued a press statement, announcing the suspension of Justice Halloway, pursuant to section 137 (6), on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. The decision according to release, will remained enforced pending the outcome of the disciplinary tribunal set up to investigate his conduct.
In rejoinder to this suspension, Lawyer’s Society reflected on Justice Halloway’s two letters (dated 11th August 2025 and 11th September 2025 respectively) written to the Chief Justice, accusing him of constitutional and human rights violations.
In the letters, Justice Halloway accused the Chief Justice of withholding of his statutory allowances and employment benefits, his removal from case panels where he was previously listed, and his exclusion from participating in hearings at both the Appellate and Supreme Courts.
The organization also noted that Justice Halloway had complained that these actions against him adversely impacted the health of his mother.
In the press release dated September 17th, 2025, the organization emphasized that the Judicial and Legal Service Commission should have first heard and considered the complaint made by the Hon. Justice Halloway JSC against the Hon. Chief Justice. The organization claims that neglect of his complaints is a direct breach of fundamental and constitutional rights.
Challenging the legal basis upon which the suspension was made, the organization argued that the tribunal did not accurately comply to sections 137(5) and (6) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, which provides for the clear basis on which Judges can be suspended.
Speaking on the broader the impact, the organization fear that if grievances of legal practitioners are ignored, it would widely affect public confidence in the judiciary.
As such, the organization has urged for the reversal of suspension by the presidency and also the remission of this matter to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
