By Ragan M. Conteh

Members of Parliament have voted to abolish the jury system in all criminal proceedings.

The Criminal Procedure Act of 1995, which had been under review for ages, was finally amended on Friday 5 July, 2024.

However, Members of Parliament from the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) voted to maintain the Jury System in the law books, while MPs of the Sierra Leone People’s party voted to remove the system completely in the country’s law book.

Advancing the reasons for maintaining the Jury System, the Acting Leader of the opposition, Hon. Daniel Koroma, said “the system is good as it helps justice to prevail.”

He said the Jury System will do no harm if retained in the country’s law books.

According to Daniel Koroma, Parliament has the proclivity to amend the Jury System either by reducing the number of jurors or do otherwise.

He pointed out that abolishing the Jury System will affect many provisions of the law.

He went further said as MPs they are in parliament to make laws but not to tamper with the laws that will affect the justice system.

On the contrary the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, said most of the countries have got rid of the Jury System, adding that most of the country are progressing and are now experiencing a speedy justice system.

He informed MPs that as lawyers they have discovered that the Jury System has been commercialized and it had been used to intentionally delay cases in court.

He went further to say that the Jury System is very archaic borrowed from colonial masters.

Hon. Speaker said most of the jurors receive bribes to divert justice in favour of perpetrators, adding that removing the Jury System will add effectiveness in the dispensation of justice.

The Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma, also insisted for the removal of the law in the law books as it is a colonial way of dispensing justice.

The vote saw significant debate and contention among parliament members. Ultimately, the decision to expunge the jury system marked with 65 votes in favor and 38 against.

This outcome surprised many, particularly members of the All People’s Congress (APC) party especially when Honourable Mohamed Bangura joined forces with the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). SLPP MPs are the primary advocates for the passage of the new bill.

The motion to abolish the jury system marks a significant shift in Sierra Leone’s judicial landscape, according to many opinion givers.

Proponents of the bill argue that the jury system was outdated and often leads to inconsistencies in verdicts.

They contend that a professional judge will ensure a more reliable and just outcomes in criminal cases.

Those opposing to the law’s abolition express concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of judges and the potential to decrease the amount of public participation in the judicial process.

They emphasized that the jury system, despite its flaws, represent a crucial check and balances on judicial powers and a means of involving ordinary citizens in the justice system.

The decision was made after the bill was read for the third time by the Honourable Speaker of Parliament.

With this change, all criminal trials will now be conducted solely by judges without the involvement of jurors.

This development is expected to have wide-reaching implications for the justice system in Sierra Leone, according to other views of people.

But others believe the move aims to streamline judicial proceedings and improve the efficiency of the courts. However, it also raises questions about how justice will be administered and the role of public participation in the legal process.

As Sierra Leone transitions from a jury system, all eyes will be on how this significant change impacts the fairness and effectiveness of handling criminal trials in the country.