CMJA Triennial Conference September 2025
“Innovations In Judicial Practice: Embracing Change For A Better Future”
Banjul, The Gambia
21st to 29th September 2025
CMJA Triennial Conference
Banjul, The Gambia 21st-26th September 2025
Conference Programme
“INNOVATIONS IN JUDICIAL PRACTICE:
|
||||||||
| 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
|
|||||||
| 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
|
|||||||
| 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 |
No comment