A candidate vying for the position of Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court arrived at his interview armed with short, medium and long-term plans for what has been described as a troubled court.
According to judicial watchdog, Judges Matter, Judge Andre Le Granges legal career started in 1988, when he joined the Department of Justice as a public protector. He served as an additional magistrate from 1993 to 1998 and as a regional magistrate until 2005.
Le Grange acted as a Western Cape High Court judge from 2005 to 2007 before being appointed as a Judge in 2007.
He is currently serving as an Acting Deputy Judge President of the division. He has now raised his hand for the top judge post and further outlined his plans if he is afforded the opportunity to do so.
"I have got about eight and a half years left before retirement and I would like to build a court that is stable. I would like to see a court that delivers quality justice and access to justice and I would like to see a court that embraces new technology. I would also like to see a court that does things a little bit differently because in terms of approach and in terms of views, obviously, I have got a different approach, and different views as the AJP Acting Judge President and that is why we are sitting here today. With regard to my short-term vision, there is no magic - in regard to a division that had all these problems, but one can at least start somewhere and somewhere to start is to have an open debate amongst the colleagues within the division and I firmly believe that being there for so long has given me an insight into the division. I know the division like the back of my hand," says Judge Andre le Grange.
