Tanzania's Chief Justice George Masaju told 774 newly admitted lawyers in Dodoma to knock off the activist behavior and start respecting courtroom protocol. He said some attorneys only praise judicial independence when they win cases but cry foul when verdicts go against them, and that kind of selective outrage undermines the whole legal system. The top judge warned that mixing political activism with legal practice creates conflicts of interest that can hurt clients and damage professional reputations.
Masaju pointed out that heavy activism makes lawyers look partisan to judges and opposing counsel, which tanks their effectiveness in court. When attorneys get too wrapped up in causes, they risk alienating clients who don't share those views, and their litigation strategies might clash with the formal legal procedures they're supposed to follow. The speech came during the country's 73rd advocate enrollment ceremony.
Masaju pointed out that heavy activism makes lawyers look partisan to judges and opposing counsel, which tanks their effectiveness in court. When attorneys get too wrapped up in causes, they risk alienating clients who don't share those views, and their litigation strategies might clash with the formal legal procedures they're supposed to follow. The speech came during the country's 73rd advocate enrollment ceremony.
