The Vulnerability of Judges in Contemporary Africa: Alarming Trends

The judicialization of politics has been described as one of the most significant phenomena of late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century government. The courts have more judicial muscle than they did centuries ago, but it would be a mistake to assume that with more power has come more protection. This article discusses judicial independence by highlighting some concerning instances of judicial interference that have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa since 2010. In my discussion of these threats, I highlight that the executive is not the only avenue by which interference in the judiciary occurs. I conclude with suggestions of ways in which judges as social actors can mitigate undue influence and present a stronger judiciary.