How can l to expedite the process in High Court?
My cousin was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for murder in the regional magistrate’s court. He was refused leave to appeal his conviction and sentence in the same court. So he petitioned the High Court for leave to appeal But this seems to be taking forever. It’s now almost 2 years since 2015. I understand some inmates have been waiting for as long as 4 years for their appeals to be heard. What do you advise I do to expedite the process?
Category: Civil Matters, High Court
Region: South Africa, Eastern Cape
1 Answer
Often Criminal trials and appeals delay because of the sheer caseload of the criminal justice system. The Magistrates court and the High court have to deal with many cases, and sometimes there is a shortage of court staff, prosecutors and judicial officers. A diligent lawyer can assist in making sure all the ducks are in a row when it comes to appeal matters like yours. If you don’t have funds one can obtain assistance from the legal aid board. One can google the contact detail of the nearest Justice Centre of the Legal Aid Board.