In practice, however, an unspoken bias persists, suspicion of academics as judges. Articles 166 and 167 of the Constitution prescribe the qualifications for judges of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. Far from being detached, many academics engage in law reform, constitutional litigation, judicial training, arbitration, and public service. In Germany, constitutional judges are routinely drawn from universities, and the Federal Constitutional Court is celebrated for its rigorous, theory-informed jurisprudence. Academic judges expand the range of judicial imagination.

Source: Daily Nation February 06, 2026 09:00 UTC