ARE JUDGE "GODS"? CAN THEY BE CRITICIZED FOR THEIR INJUSTICE?

The judicial system, that perfect, unblemished institution where decisions are handed down from on high, with a divine sense of fairness and impartiality, right? Well, not exactly. If you’ve ever witnessed a court ruling in Namibia that left you scratching your head, wondering if the judge was reading from a script written by a drunk giraffe, you’re not alone.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the courtroom: Judges are not gods. Sorry to burst your bubble. Sure, they wear the robes, bang their gavels, and spew Latin phrases like “res judicata” or “ex parte,” which are supposed to make them sound like they hold all the knowledge of the universe. But let’s not kid ourselves. Even the best of them are just humans, and as we all know, humans are fantastic at making mistakes. Especially when their decisions leave people in tears, their homes repossessed, or their livelihoods destroyed.

In Namibia, we’ve seen it all: from delayed justice that stretches years into eternity (because, you know, the courts are so overwhelmed with cases that they’ve forgotten how to process one), to judgements so out of touch with reality that you’d think the judge just came back from a week-long safari in the Etosha National Park, completely oblivious to the concerns of the common man. Ever wondered if some of those rulings are based on who brought the best lunch to court? Because, honestly, some of those decisions taste like a hearty helping of bias.

Now, the big question: Can judges be criticized for their injustice? Oh, absolutely. If there’s a sport for dodging responsibility, some judges in Namibia could qualify for the national team. Whether it's ruling in favor of powerful business tycoons because “rules are just guidelines,” or dismissing critical cases because, “You know, I’ve had a long day,” we, the humble citizens, should be able to call it out. But somehow, the sacred aura surrounding judges makes us hesitate. “Oh, they’re above criticism,” some will say. “They know better.” Yeah, they do – but sometimes, they don’t know anything better.

Let’s face it: we all know someone who has been wronged by the system, right? Maybe it was a wrongful eviction, an unfair custody battle, or a case where the scales of justice seemed to tip only for the richest, most connected person in the room. But can we criticize the judge for this injustice? Well, in theory, yes. In practice, though? Prepare for a lecture on the "integrity of the judiciary" and how “judges are unbiased and impartial.” They should be, of course. But we all know how that plays out when the man in the robe happens to have a buddy who owns half of Windhoek's property market.

It’s high time we stop treating judges like mythical creatures and start holding them accountable. After all, in a country where land disputes, corruption, and human rights violations are still a real thing, letting a judge get away with a decision that damages lives for the sake of their "God-like" status is not justice, it’s an embarrassment. The Namibian Constitution grants us the right to a fair trial, but that doesn’t mean we have to just sit there and worship the judgment handed down from a raised platform. Criticize it. Question it. Demand better. And if the response is, “Well, we’re judges,” just remind them: We’re people too.

After all, last time I checked, gods don’t need salaries, housing allowances, or retirement packages. They just… are.