Name of the institution : Supreme Court of The Gambia

President :
Hon. Abdou Karim SAVAGE

IASAJ representative :
Hon. Justice Hassan B. JALLOW

Address :
Law Courts Complex
Banjul
Gambia

Phone number :
(220) 22 73 80
(220) 20 23 62

Fax :
(220) 22 42 86

E-mail :
Lartey@Gamtel.gm

Website :
www.Gamtel.gm

Composition and structure

Number of members :
Five judges including the Chief Justice.

Recruitment procedure and incompatibilities :
Appointment by the President of the Republic of The Gambia on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission from amongst lawyers with not less than twelve years experience or from judges of the Court of Appeal with no less than five years experience in such a Court.

Internal organization :
The Court is served by a Registrar and other staff of the judiciary.

Publications :
The judgments of the Supreme Court are reported in The Gambia Law Reports published by the National Council for Law Reporting.

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Court functions

Jurisdiction :
The principal jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is an appellate one. This involves hearing and determining appeals from decisions of the The Gambia Court of Appeal.
In addition the Supreme Court has an exclusive original jurisdiction in matters relating to the interpretation or enforcement of the Constitution and on questions touching on elections to the office of President of the Republic, or on membership of the National Assembly.

Organization of the courts system :
The Supreme Court has no separate chambers or division. It sits as a five person bench for all cases coming before it. With only one exception : when the Court is reviewing its earlier decision, it coopts two other judges to form a panel of seven.

Powers of the judge :
The Supreme Court is empowered to make such orders (annulment, reversal, compensation, etc) as will enforce its judgements or enforce the Constitution. It may set aside administrative decisions. It may issue orders of mandamus, prohibition certiorari or such other orders it considers appropriate.

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Advisory functions

The Supreme Court has no advisory jurisdiction.

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