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An effective judiciary guarantees fairness in legal processes. It’s a powerful weapon against corruption. But people’s experiences in court are often far from fair. In some countries, most people in contact with the courts face demands for bribes. Their payments total staggering amounts. Court efficiency is crucial. A backlog of cases creates opportunities for demanding bribes to fast-track a case. Court personnel can be paid to slow down or speed up a trial, or dismiss a complaint.
Judges can also bribe or be bribed, or they can suffer pressure from above. If politicians abuse their power, they can influence decisions and distort appointment processes.
Against this backdrop, people are often unaware of their rights. Or worse still, countless negative experiences can simply resign them to their fate before a corrupt court. The solution?
A range of simple reforms can prevent judicial corruption. An independent body should oversee appointments. This helps ensure they’re based on merit rather than favouritism. If the public is given proper information, we can also monitor the process.
Fair judicial salaries and pensions make court personnel less vulnerable to bribery. These should reflect experience, performance and an honest track record. In the face of powerful interests, several measures can also protect judges from pressure. These include investigations of credible allegations against them, and limited liability for decisions. Court officials must be aware that if corruption is proved, they’ll be removed in a fair, open way.
Civil society, the private sector, the media – we all have a vital role to play. We must expose judicial bias and drive reforms to increase courtroom honesty.
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