4 June 2014 - Lack of judges in nine out of 10 counties in Western Equatoria State was negatively affecting local citizens, a senior judicial official said in the state capital Yambio today.

State Head of Legal Administration Deng Kuot Machar said the only four second magistrate judges in the state had been confined to working in Yambio for the last six months.

This had resulted into many cases of prolonged detention, he added.

“The four judges only preside (over) small cases (leaving) big cases for a High Court Judge who is yet to be deployed,” said Mr. Kuot. “Cases continuous to increase in hundreds … and more judges are yet to be sent to the state from Juba to replace those who went for leave in December 2013 and have not (returned).”

Mr. Kuot noted that many detainees in prison and police cells in the counties were frustrated as the county judge had no jurisdiction over their cases and could only renew their detention periods.

He added that many of them had been held in custody for longer periods than they would have ordinarily served for the minor crimes they had committed.

“The Legal Administration Office doesn’t have authority to release those with minor cases until the High Court Judge comes because those offended may take law into their hands,” said Mr. Kuot.

There were no reports yet of any retaliation by those for whom justice had been delayed, but the situation was critical, he noted.

He appealed to both the state and national governments to take urgent action in Western Equatoria, which is referred to as a “green state” owing to peace and stability there.