The Supreme Court’s unanimous decisions are always based on law – Justice Torkornoo

She said all the rulings made by the apex court are grounded in law.

During her vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, May 26, Justice Torkornoo explained that a unanimous decision by the apex court indicates that the decision is based on the law and not influenced by bias.

“Whenever you encounter a unanimous decision, it tells you that the law is totally on the side of the position taken by the court, that every member of the court in fidelity to their judicial oath cannot take a different position, it tells you that, that is what the law is.

“So the only response is to learn from what the law says, it is not a matter of bias, it is a matter of the legal position.”

Justice Torkornoo also defended the decision by the Supreme Court to issue contempt summons to persons who make insulting comments or denigrate the image of the apex court.

According to her, summoning people for contempt is a tool used to keep the dignity and reputation of the Courts in Ghana.

“The issuing of contempt summons has always been a tool that has been used by courts to ensure that the dignity of the court is not scandalized. The [Supreme] Court is one out of 400 courts, and it is the ultimate voice, so whenever the court acts, whether it is the High Court, Court of Appeal, or Supreme Court, it is to ensure that the Justice system is not scandalized,” Justice Torkornoo said during her vetting.

Justice Torkornoo is seeking to replace Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboah, who retired from the judiciary this week.

Justice Gertrude Torkornoo Pulse Ghana

She was nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in April 2023.

In a letter to the Council of State, President Akufo-Addo said Justice Torkornoo who has been “on the Supreme Court for the last four (4) and has been a member of the Judiciary for the last nineteen (19) years is duly qualified and eminently fit to discharge the functions of Chief Justice.”

Justice Torkornoo will become the third female Chief Justice in history, following the footsteps of Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.