Attach urgency to Supreme court cases on anti-gay bill – Judicial Service tells parties involved

The Judicial Service has responded to a petition by Ningo Prampram MP and one of the proponents of the Pro-Family Values Bill, Sam George for an expedited hearing of the Supreme Court cases on the Pro-Family Values Bill.

The MP together with other Christian organsiations petitioned the Judicial Service and the Attorney-General on October 8 for a quicken hearing of the Supreme Court cases on the bill.

The Service in response to the petition urged the parties involved in the cases to “attach the urgency to this case as shown in the petition and file the necessary processes for the cases to be heard.”

The Service said the Apex Court can only hear the case when the positions of the parties have been stated.

According to the Service, the parties have elapsed the fourteen days rule required for them to file their cases and have not yet still presented their cases.

“For the Supreme Court to hear any case, the parties are required to file their respective pleadings in the form of a statement of case within the timelines provided for by the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (CJ 16).

“As the two communications issued earlier stated, Parliament and the parties have not complied with the requirements that allow a trial of the case raised by the Plaintiffs,” the statement from the Judicial Service stated.

The Judicial Service further explained that although the Chief Justice has discretionary powers, it does not exceed the situation where the Chief Justice sets down a case for parties and renders judgement when the parties have not presented their cases before the court.

“This process cannot be interfered with by the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice in her administrative capacity,” the statement added.

Source:onuaonline.com