'Judges should use their most fluent language to write judgments'

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria called on all judges to use the language they speak most fluently to write their judgments.

He said if the judge was more fluent in English, the should continue using the language in writing the judgments for their cases.

"Likewise, if the judge is more comfortable writing in Malay language, then the language should be used to perfection," he said at the opening of the 50th Council of Judges Annual Conference here Friday.

Themed 'Towards Judicial Excellence', the four-day conference, which began yesterday, sees the participation of 133 judges of Federal Court, Court of Appeals and High Court nationwide.

At the conference, the judges also discussed current legislative and judiciary issues, besides the performance of civil and criminal case disposal at all courts across the country.

Arifin said if the judge used his most fluent language, it would enable his judgment to be understood better.

He also reminded lower court judges to respect and not to dispute the rulings made by the judges of higher courts.

"I have heard that judges who are not pleased with courts of hierarchy, passed some kind of remarks, you might disagree with the Federal Court or Court of Appeals, you are bound by it.

"So, please don't pass any uncalled for remarks as it does not reflect well on the judiciary," he said.

The Chief Justice also told judges that writing a quality judgment was an essential step in continuing challenge for the judiciary in line with this year's motto.

"There have been many adverse comments on quality judgments, so what is crucial for us is to take necessary steps to address this issue. After training, your judgment will be closely monitored and if no improvement, the committee will give you another chance," he said, adding that the best guide was to read the judgments of earlier judges.

Meanwhile, Court of Appeals president Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif said the court judgments did not just in favour to the government, but had also in favour to the opposition.

"That's not true, we hold our office here, I think they should not look at selected cases, they should look at cases as a whole," he told reporters when asked to comment on the Bar Council's statement that all rulings related to the Constitution matters seemed to favour to government.