Sostenus Wilherm
Chief justice Peter Shivute has called for greater institutional responsibility for the well-being of judicial officers and support staff, warning that individual resilience cannot indefinitely compensate for heavy workloads, inadequate support and demanding working conditions.
Shivute made the remarks on Saturday at the Supreme Court in Windhoek during Namibia’s first commemoration of the International Day for Judicial Well-being, held under the theme, “Judicial Well-being and Integrity: From Individual Resilience to Institutional Responsibility”.
He said the well-being of judicial officers is closely linked to the proper administration of justice, as judges and magistrates are required to make decisions affecting people’s liberty, livelihoods, families and property while maintaining patience, independence and impartiality.
“The demands are real and, at present, they are considerable. What I do not accept is that they must be met at the cost of our health,” Shivute said.
He stressed that experiencing stress should not be interpreted as a sign of incompetence or a lack of integrity, saying judicial officers remain human despite the authority and responsibility attached to their positions.
“Judicial stress is not a weakness and must not be stigmatised,” he said, referring to the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being.
According to Shivute, judicial work requires officers to process large volumes of information, manage demanding caseloads and deal with difficult human circumstances, often while maintaining an outward appearance of calm and control.
He compared judicial officers to a swan, appearing serene as it moves across the water while paddling intensely beneath the surface.
“There is something very familiar in that image. Judicial office demands composure,” he said, cautioning that the outward appearance of a composed colleague does not necessarily mean that everything is well.
Shivute said Namibia’s judiciary must therefore create an environment where judicial officers and staff can speak openly about the pressures they face without fear of being perceived as weak or incapable.
He said judicial well-being should not be reduced to individual responsibility, arguing that courts, judicial leadership and management must also address institutional factors that contribute to stress.
“That requires us, institutionally, to look at workloads, working conditions, support mechanisms and our organisational culture,” Shivute said.
He added that manageable workloads, adequate administrative support, appropriate rest, psychological support, respectful leadership and strong collegial relationships are necessary to sustain a healthy judiciary.
The chief justice also broadened the issue beyond judges and magistrates, saying every employee of the office of the judiciary contributes to the administration of justice.
“The administration of justice is a collective endeavour,” he said, noting that some contributions are visible in courtrooms while others take place behind the scenes.
Shivute said the well-being of the institution therefore depends on caring for people across the judiciary, regardless of their particular roles.
He further highlighted collegial relationships as an important element of judicial well-being, saying simple acts such as checking on colleagues, listening to their concerns and ensuring that people do not carry workplace burdens alone can make a difference.
The International Day for Judicial Well-being was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 March 2025, following the adoption of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being at a regional judicial conference in 2024.
Although the international day is observed annually on 25 July, Namibia postponed its commemoration due to circumstances that prevented an event on the official date.
Shivute said the occasion should not become merely an annual event but should mark the beginning of a sustained commitment to the well-being of those responsible for administering justice.
“To the judicial officers of all three tiers of our courts, and to the management and support staff of the office of the judiciary: thank you for work that is mostly done without recognition, and much of it under pressure,” he said.
He urged judicial officers and staff to look after themselves and one another, arguing that a Judiciary capable of acknowledging its own humanity would ultimately be stronger and more upright.
