{UAH} WHAT ARE ASSESSORS AND WHY DO OUR COURTS HAVE THEM?

WHAT ARE ASSESSORS AND WHY DO OUR COURTS
HAVE THEM?
For criminal cases which have to be tried in the
High Court, the law requires that assessors help or
give "aid" to the Court.
The law requires that every criminal case to be tried
in the High Court have at least 2 assessors.
WHAT AN ASSESSOR IS
An assessor is an ordinary person residing in the
area of the Court, who is called upon to aid Court in
a case. Assessors do not have special training or
preparation for Court, they are merely informed of
their roles by the Judge and given basic information
into the offence the accused is indicted for and
what the Prosecution must do to prove its case.
WHY DO WE HAVE ASSESSORS
When Uganda was a young Protectorate, the Judges
and Judicial officers were not Ugandan, yet the had
to deliver justice to Ugandans who had lived their
lives based on the rules of Customs. These Judges
did not know or understand these customs and so
needed neutral persons to be able to explain to
them the customs of the area and also, knowing
the character of the people, the assessors could
help advise the Judge on their opinion of the
accused. Assessors need to be able to read and
write in English because that is how they advise the
Court.
WHAT DO ASSESSORS DO?
Today assessors help the Judge by giving their
opinion on the case, whether they believe the
prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable
doubt and also raise issues that they feel are
important to the case. Assessors can give an
opinion regarding whether or not they believe the
accused is guilty given the evidence presented.
The opinion of the Assessors does not bind the
Judge in any way and the Judge may depart from it,
giving his or her reasons why.

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Allaah gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him."And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things." (6:17)

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