THE Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) says judicial decisions ought to be subject to ‘vigorous public debate and criticism’.
‘It is only within such an environment that judges will fully realise their responsibility towards the public,’ the party said in a statement. It said this responsibility is not restricted to the protection of the general public, but also judges explaining their decisions, ‘and in acknowledging that their own viewpoints are not necessarily the only legitimate ones’. The party said although the right to criticise judicial decisions is curtailed by the offence of contempt of court, which is to protect the integrity of the court, this restriction should allow for robust public debate. It called for politicians to serve on the Judicial Service Commission, which consists of members of the judiciary and legal profession, for this body to be more ‘democratic, responsive and inclusive’. However, it cautioned against any perceived politicisation of the Namibian judiciary.
