Conference Programme

“INNOVATIONS IN JUDICIAL PRACTICE:
EMBRACING CHANGE FOR A BETTER FUTURE”

Held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre

 Banjul, The Gambia
21-26 September 2025

 PROGRAMME
Subject to change

As of 4 March 2025
 

Sunday 21 September
0930-1230 Meeting of CMJA Council Members (by invitation only) 
1030-1230 Meeting of Chief Justices, hosted by Chief Justice of The Gambia (by invitation only) 
From 1400 Registration of delegates
1830 Welcome Reception

 

Monday 22 September
0900-1030

 

 

 

 Session 1:

OPENING CEREMONY

National Anthem + Welcome by MC
Procession of the Commonwealth Flags (by local schoolchildren)
Welcome Songs/Entertainment
Speech by Justice Lynne Leitch, President CMJA
Speech by Hon. Chief Justice Hassan Jallow, Chief Justice of The Gambia
Opening Keynote Address by Guest of Honour
Conference Photograph
1030-1100 TEA BREAK
1100-1130 Notices and Introduction to Conference:
Judge Shamim Qureshi, Director of Programmes, CMJAMembership of CMJA
1130-1245 Session 2:   Keynote Speech:

“Innovations in judicial practice: Embracing change for a better future”

Speaker:  Hon Chief Justice Hassan Jallow, Chief Justice of The Gambia
1245-1345 LUNCH
1345-1500 Session 3:  Concurrent Panels:

Session 3A: Concurrent Session:

“More efficiency or more stress:  Modern Technology in the Court Room?”

  Session 3B: “A comparison of sentencing guidelines – do they help in sentencing or fetter judicial discretion?”
1500-1530 TEA BREAK
1530-1645 Session 4:   CMJA Regional Elections to select Council members for 2025-2028 and Gender Section :

Election for 1 x Regional Vice-President

Election for 2 x Regional Members

Election for 1 x Regional representative for the Gender Section Committee

Africa – East, Central and Southern
Africa – West
Atlantic and Mediterranean
Caribbean
Indian Ocean
Pacific
Evening TBC
 

Tuesday 23 September
09:00 Announcement of 2026 Conference
09:00-10:45 Session 5: Panel Session

“Artificial Intelligence- can judges effectively monitor its ethical use in the courtroom?”
1045-1115 TEA BREAK
1115-1245 Session 6:   Specialist Groups:
A: SIFoCC  “Innovations in Commercial Courts procedures”
B: “Progress on the Commonwealth Military Justice Transformation Project”
C: “Innovations to procedures in small claims courts”
D: “Is it no longer possible to make innovations in longstanding religious and customary courts?”
E: “ Innovations in Election Petition Courts”
  F:  “Innovations in Labour Law”
1245-1345 LUNCH
1345-1500 Session 7:  Concurrent Panels:

Session 7A: “Economic and financial crimes in the digital era and making criminals pay”
  Session 7B: “Innovations in family court procedures”
1500-1530 TEA BREAK
1530-1645 Session 8:  Plenary Gender Session:

“A fireside chat”
Evening TBC
  Wednesday 24 September
0900 Briefing on Global Judicial Integrity Network – Justice Lynne Leitch, Canada
0900-1045 Session 9:  Plenary Session:

“The Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-Being”
1045-1115 TEA BREAK
1115-1245 Session 10:  Concurrent Panels:

Session 10A: “New Guidelines for the appointments on Apex courts” 

  Session 10B: “Do disciplinary hearings for judicial officers pass the test for fairness?”
1245-1345 LUNCH
1345-1500 Session 11:   Concurrent Panels:

11A: “Preparing for retirement”
  11B: “Innovations by diverting female and youths from custody and the wider impact on society”
1500-1530 TEA BREAK
1530-1645 Session 12:   Breakout Session:

“Social media and the judiciary – is it used to hold us to account or to attack us with no right of reply?”
Evening TBC
 

Thursday 25 September
0900 Briefing on CMJA Endowment Fund –
0900-1045 Session 13:  Plenary Session:

“Innovations in judicial procedures and cooperation in international courts”
1045-1115 TEA BREAK
1115-1245 Session 14: Breakout Session:

“What kind of protections do the judiciary really need?”
1245-1345 LUNCH
1345-1500 Session 15:  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CMJA

Chaired by President
1500-1530 Session 16: Closing of the Conference

Handover of Presidency

Remarks by outgoing President of CMJA

Remarks by new President of CMJA
1530-1600 TEA BREAK
1600-1700 First meeting of the new CMJA Council

(new Council members only to attend)
1930-2200 Gala Dinner and Dance
 

Friday 26 September
  Optional Conference Day Trip
Travel through Kombo South and experience the vibes of the Gambia in particular its culture, dance, music and traditions. 

 

Saturday 27 September
Morning Optional – Walk for Health organised with the Gambia Judiciary