Nature Of Our Work Makes Us Unsociable - Justice Mensah

Supreme Court Judge nominee, Justice Philip Bright Mensah, has revealed that the demanding nature of judicial work compels judges to limit their social interactions in order to maintain the integrity of the justice system and public confidence in the courts. Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, Justice Mensah noted that judges are under constant public scrutiny, making it necessary to be cautious about their associations, as even harmless relationships can be misconstrued.

He explained that societal expectations place judges in a unique position where their conduct must be beyond reproach, often causing them to appear withdrawn or unsociable in public life.

“The life of a judge is such that you won’t understand unless you are in the field. Every step that you take and the things that you do are in the public eye, so when we are talking about trust in the system, you, as a judge, must behave yourself such that people will have confidence in the court that they are coming for justice.

“If you even associate yourself with some people, it gives room for suspicion, so you would have to isolate yourself from some things. I pick and choose my friends,” he said.