Confused judges

MUCKRAKER will be depressed for the next few weeks. She has just watched a horror movie at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre. The movie is called the Roasting of Aspiring Judges of the Palace of Jokers and it was directed by Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane. It was written by the JSC, also known as the Jokers Service Commission. The main actors were five lawyers, some of whom did a splendid job of embarrassing themselves with gusto. Some insisted on acting without even reading the script, hoping their confusion will confuse the interviewers into giving them the job. Others simply created their own script and pretended to be putting on a great show. Some did not even know how to fill a mere form. Remember this was just a form in which they had to list the reported cases they handled. That simple form gave some of the candidates nightmares. It reminded them of examination papers. Little wonder some answered questions that were not asked. Then during the interview, some just veered off-topic. One said she did not expect to be asked a certain question as if she was one of their interviewers. One fumbled around for answers as if she was abducted from the street and dragged to the interview. Another looked shocked as if she had been startled from a deep slumber. The lesson from the circus is that we are just about to load the bench with some mediocrity. These are the people who will decide if someone should spend years in jail or walk free. They cannot answer simple questions or fill in basic forms but want to wear those hideous wigs and make decisions on intricate matters. Matters that can determine the future of this country and its people. The wonders of this wonderful country leave you in wonderment. At least the new judges will not have to report to Justice Masefokolo. Otherwise, they will spend years wandering.