Ethiopian Federal Appellate Courts Must Now Provide Reasons for Dismissing Appeals
The federal appellate courts have long had a practice of dismissing appeals without providing a reason on the standard form. This procedure has allowed appellate courts to make prompt decisions as they were not required to articulate detailed reasoning for deciding to dismiss an appeal without calling on the respondent. However, the procedure created the perception of arbitrariness in the judicial decision-making process. As a result, it has been a source of discontent and eroding public trust in the judiciary.
On June 7, 2023, the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia issued a circular. Pursuant to the circular, starting from June 14, 2023, all Federal appellate courts are required to adequately articulate the reasons for their decision to dismiss an appeal without calling on the respondent. Accordingly, all federal appellate courts have the duty to give reasons when dismissing an appeal without calling on the respondent since ensuring promptness should not come at the expense of fair decision-making, principles of natural justice, and institutional accountability.
