Press Release
November 29, 2006

KIKO ON THE NON-ATTENDANCE OF FIVE NOMINEES IN THE JBC INTERVIEWS FOR THE NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE

"We are dismayed by the five Justices' decision not to face the JBC panel for public interviews.This event would have been an opportune time for the public to participate in the process of selecting their next Chief Justice. We firmly believe that sovereignty lies on our citizens and all government authority, including that of our Justices, emanates from the people. We have long worked on confronting the perceived exclusivity of the JBC's selection process, as clearly, the appointment of the Chief Justice is a matter of public interest. We have the highest respect for our Justices, but it does not mean that we cannot disagree, especially on making the process of selection of the next Chief Justice, open to the public and more transparent.

"I asked for the record three points that the JBC will have to deliberate on: first, as is the practice for lower court nominees, do we exclude those who did not appear from the list of nominees? Second, do we declare the nomination process a failure and accept new nominees? And third do we proceed to nominate them even if they did not appear? These are concerns that the JBC will tackle when we meet again on Monday. We need to decide on December 4 or 5, as the position becomes vacant on December 7, 2006. I stress this need to execute a stringent and transparent process for the selection of the new Chief Justice, because our people have a right to participate in matters of public interest. Transparency, public scrutiny and accountability, are the underlying principles behind the push for public interviews. "

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