Private legal practitioner and Head of Chambers at Clinton Consultancy, Amanda Clinton, has urged suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to exercise restraint and refrain from further public commentary as she faces an ongoing probe into petitions for her removal from office.
Clinton’s remarks follow a press briefing by the Chief Justice, who raised concerns about procedural breaches and constitutional irregularities in the ongoing proceedings. Torkornoo’s statements were her first public response since a five-member committee was constituted to evaluate the petitions filed against her.
While acknowledging the Chief Justice’s grievances, Amanda Clinton stressed that discretion and respect for institutional mechanisms should take precedence during such a sensitive judicial process. She advised that silence in moments like this is a show of strength, not weakness, as it preserves the dignity of the office and allows for the process to unfold without public interference.
Clinton reiterated that the judiciary’s legitimacy hinges more on the credibility of its procedures than the personalities involved. “Justice Torkornoo’s highest duty now is not to herself, but to the office she represents,” Clinton said, cautioning that continued public engagement could undermine confidence in the process and deepen public controversy.
She encouraged the Chief Justice to trust the committee’s process, stating that any vindication should come through the appropriate institutional mechanisms. If the panel finds no grounds for removal, it would serve as a formal exoneration. If otherwise, Clinton noted, an orderly transition would be necessary in the interest of both justice and institutional integrity.
Emphasizing that the public is closely watching both the individual and the institution, Clinton concluded that how the Chief Justice navigates this moment will shape both her legacy and that of the judiciary.
