The essence of a free, fair and absolutely independent judiciary must flow right from the Supreme Court to every lower court across the nation. Judges should always be appointed fairly having due regard to their eminent qualifications, experience, competence, capability and probity in public life. As long as every judge dispenses justice to the highest degree of impartiality and to the best of conscience without allowing any political or other form of interference or undue influence to cloud their judgments, then any unfavourable perception or fears the public may hold against the Judiciary will be allayed. Contact between advocates and judges should be restricted to the courtroom. This would go a long way in ensuring an independent, unprejudiced, free and fair Judiciary.
A judge is cast with that sacred and solemn duty of dispensing justice freely and fearlessly. Every judge should endeavour to strictly adhere to that Hippocratic Oath. There should be no exception whatsoever to this cardinal rule. We as advocates owe it our noble profession not to create a situation placing our judges in an awkard and embarrassing position.
