OPINION – Only in Ethiopia: How to relegate a judge to a public defender

“When you punish/remove a judge, you relegate him to a public defender”

Henok G. Gabisa, Special to Addis Standard

The concept of rule of law is deeply linked to the principle of justice, involving an ideal of accountability and fairness in the protection and vindication of rights and the prevention and punishment of wrongs. Whether it is from the time of ancient Cush civilization to Athenians democracy or back again from Oromo’s Gadaa democracy to the enlightenment era inspired US constitution, there is a clear and consistent jurisprudential narrative that human liberty, justice, equality, legitimacy, governance, security and rights are the rubrics and fabrics of societal mechanisms to avoid tyranny and promote rule of law. The ultimate goal boils down to having a “national” political system free of tyranny, governed by the rule of law which forms the core of a society in which individuals feel safe and secure; where legal protection is provided equally for all and disputes are settled peacefully and effective/fair redress is available for harm suffered, and where all who violate the law, including the State itself and its echelons, are held to account.