Judge’s attitude cannot be ignored

By Saleh Ibrahim Al-TuraiqiOkaz newspaperIT was nice to read a report that Ibrahim Al-Salama, head of the Jeddah Summary Court, has apologized to a citizen – Amr Ali Abdu – for a wrong act committed by a judge at his court. The judge had ordered that Amr be handcuffed and taken into custody without serving him with a legal notice. The man’s only offense was overtaking the judge’s car.It would also be nice if Al-Salama explains the procedures that are going to be taken against the judge who misused his authority to collect details about the citizen’s car and then ordered the police to produce him before the court. If the judge abused his power for such a minor infraction, then there is every possibility for the misuse of power in other cases. If anybody overtakes the judge’s car, then the judge has him imprisoned and this means that the judge’s temperament influences him while issuing verdicts. This is a catastrophe.Any judge who is influenced by his temperament is no doubt weak and/or incapable of controlling his impulses. A judge who disrespects his judicial profession is virtually inflicting damage to the judiciary. We cannot ignore those who exceed proper bounds, commit mistakes or misuse their power in such a profession. Judiciary represents the conscience of the society, and hence, it is indispensable for us to take seriously any case where someone tarnishes the judiciary.