The Judiciary
The judiciary is the branch of a modern government responsible for interpreting and applying the law, resolving legal disputes, protecting constitutional rights, and ensuring that public authority is exercised within lawful limits. Courts do not represent electoral constituencies or decide cases by political popularity. Their authority rests on independence, impartiality, fair procedure, reasoned judgments, and fidelity to the Constitution and the law.
The Supreme Court of Eritrea envisioned by The ABC Journey is designed to serve as the court of last resort and the principal guardian of constitutional legality. Its work includes interpreting the Constitution, determining whether laws and government actions are constitutional, resolving appeals assigned to it, and exercising other jurisdiction conferred by the constitutional framework. At this stage, the Court operates as an educational and institutional model rather than as the supreme judicial authority of a sovereign state. Its purpose is to cultivate judicial independence, constitutional reasoning, professional advocacy, and public understanding of the rule of law.
Judicial power must be exercised independently and in the name of the people. Justices must decide cases according to the Constitution, the law, and their conscience, free from the direction or control of any person or authority. The Chief Justice provides judicial and administrative leadership, while every Justice exercises independent judgment in deciding cases. The Justices of the Supreme Court page introduces the members and historical figures associated with the Court.
The Court’s proceedings are governed by the Rules of the Supreme Court. The Rules address jurisdiction, electronic filing, pleadings, motions, written submissions, oral hearings, judicial deliberation, judgments, official records, court administration, and professional responsibility. The Expert Evaluation of the Rules explains how these procedures contribute to the development of an independent, digital, and constitutional judiciary.
The Rules are supported by practical and ethical guidance. The Practice Directions will provide operational instructions concerning electronic documents, filing standards, templates, citations, remote hearings, and daily court administration. The Code of Judicial Conduct will establish the standards of independence, integrity, impartiality, restraint, and professional behavior expected of every judge.
Case Access and Management (CAAM) is the Court’s electronic litigation and case-management platform. Through CAAM, constitutional cases are commenced and argued in writing, filings and notices are exchanged, hearings are scheduled, orders and judgments are issued, and the official Electronic Case File is preserved. Plaintiffs and appellants may bring cases, private parties may defend them, the Government may sue or be sued, amici curiae may request leave to assist the Court, and authorized court staff may administer the proceedings.
Open justice allows citizens to understand both what courts decide and how they reach their decisions. CAAM Public Access allows the public to search public cases and examine available filings, orders, judgments, hearing information, and court records. Proceedings and records are ordinarily public, but the Court may mask identifying information, restrict particular documents or proceedings, or mask an entire case record when necessary in the public interest.
Public oral hearings will be livestreamed through THE ABC Project’s YouTube channel and preserved there for later viewing unless public access is lawfully restricted. The channel is shared by the Court and the Assembly as part of the project’s broader educational mission. Public access to hearings and reasoned judgments helps citizens understand constitutional government, promotes legal education, and strengthens democratic culture. It also reinforces the obligation of judges, advocates, court staff, and public officials to conduct judicial proceedings with integrity, honesty, impartiality, and professionalism.
Judicial independence also depends on a credible system for selecting judges and protecting the integrity of judicial service. The Judicial Service Commission is constitutionally responsible for recommendations concerning judicial recruitment and the terms and conditions of judicial service. It also has responsibilities relating to the investigation and recommended removal or suspension of judges under the constitutional framework.
Together, these institutions create a complete path through constitutional justice: a case is filed, the parties present written arguments, the Court may hear oral argument, the Justices deliberate independently, a reasoned judgment is issued, and the official record is preserved for the parties, the public, and future courts. This page is the starting point for exploring that system.