Kenninsaa fi Barreessa Murtii Dhimmoota Hariiroo Hawaasaa M anneen Murtii Oromiyaa: Seeraa fi Hojimaata

Abstract

This article critically examines the way civil case judgments are being rendered and written in Oromia Regional State Courts by taking Ethiopian Civil Procedure Code of 1965 and principles of judgment writing as a framework, and analyzing data gathered through interview, questionnaire, and case review to know the practical problems and their root causes. The overall finding of the research shows the existence of legal and practical problems in rendering and writing effective civil judgments both at first instance and appellate courts of the Region.On balance, however, the problems are more prevalent at first instance courts than appellate courts. These problems are mainly attributable to inadequacy of the law, misinterpreting provisions of the law, judges’ unethical behavior,  lack of giving due attention to cases by judges, poor internal controlling mechanisms to ensure accountability of the judges, the existence of case load on judges, weak cooperation of courts’ stakeholders, and etc. Accordingly, the article recommends the revision of Ethiopian Civil Procedure Code, continuous training for judges, strengthening internal controlling mechanisms to ensure accountability, increasing the number of judges in line with the existing case load, and enhancing cooperation of courts’ stakeholders