Mauritius: The Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies Bill adopted

The Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies Bill was adopted yesterday in the National Assembly.

The object is to provide for the establishment of an Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies for the purpose of promoting proficiency and ensuring the maintenance of standards in the Judiciary, among law practitioners and legal officers so as to enhance the justice system. This is in line with the recommendation of the Presidential Commission set up in 1997 to examine and report upon the structure and operation of the judicial system and legal professions of Mauritius and to related matters.

The Institute will serve to promote transparency and consistency in the sentencing of offenders, and the award of civil damages, by making recommendations to the Chief Justice for the issue of guidelines.

Another objective of the Institute will be to foster continuing judicial and legal education. It will also promote international exchanges and co-operation with other jurisdictions in the field of judicial and legal studies.

The Institute will have functions such as conducting or supervising courses, seminars or workshops for the continuing training of judicial and legal officers. It will be responsible to devise, organise and conduct Continuing Professional Development Programmes for law practitioners, including legal officers, and courses for prospective judicial and legal officers and law practitioners who qualified as such in a State other than Mauritius.

The Institute will also identify areas of need and interest where specialised knowledge is required, and promote and coordinate research and development, in the judicial and legal sectors as well as establish areas of co-operation and linkages with local, regional and international bodies in the judicial and legal sectors. It will also conduct a regular review of, and advise on compliance with and amendments to, the Guidelines for Judicial Conduct and formulate, adapt and monitor best practices in the administration of justice.

The Institute will be responsible to arrange for the dissemination of information and documentation among judicial and legal officers and law practitioners and where appropriate, organise and conduct courses for police and public officers, Court staff and persons employed by law practitioners, with a view to improving the administration of justice.