Seychelles Hosts Regional Chief Justices to Shape Future of Justice Innovation
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Seychelles is hosting the Chandler Judicial Forum at the Savoy Resort, bringing together chief justices from 16 jurisdictions across Southern and Eastern Africa to examine how innovation, leadership, and technology can strengthen the administration of justice in an increasingly complex world. The Chandler Judicial Forum Seychelles, organised by the Judiciary of Seychelles in partnership with SEACJF, the Chandler Institute of Justice, and the Singapore Judicial College, opened yesterday.
Over two days, judicial leaders are examining how innovation, leadership, and technology can strengthen the administration of justice amid mounting caseloads, rising public expectations, and the urgent need to deliver justice efficiently and accessibly. Technological advancements, particularly in digital systems and artificial intelligence, are reshaping institutions, making the forum a platform for both dialogue and practical collaboration.
Opening the forum, Seychelles’ Chief Justice Rony Govinden emphasised the evolving role of judicial leaders, noting courts increasingly confront technological disruption, heightened public expectations, heavier caseloads, and the aftereffects of crises that test institutional resilience. He stressed that legal expertise alone is no longer sufficient, highlighting the need for leadership, management, and strategic vision. He outlined three guiding imperatives: strengthening leadership capacity for institutional resilience, deepening guardianship of judicial independence while enhancing stakeholder engagement, and investing in legacy, mentorship, and regional solidarity.
Key contributions came from Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, chairperson of SEACJF, who reinforced the urgency of the moment, pointing to threats to judicial independence and rising public expectations, calling for innovative use of technology to improve access to justice. Mohammed Jalees of Singapore’s ServiceSG shared lessons on public sector transformation, stressing trust, leadership, and user-centric approaches as key enablers of reform.
Ron Chari, executive director of the Chandler Institute of Justice, highlighted the role of law in national prosperity, noting the transformative potential of technology. The forum marks the beginning of a sustained effort to strengthen judicial leadership across the region, with discussions focused on action and impact, ensuring participants return with concrete strategies to build more efficient, accessible, and responsive judicial systems.
