The Wheels of Justice...

... grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine, so the old saying goes. It appears however that these wheels are about to be kicked up a gear or three.

When I first started practice, almost two decades ago, it was not unusual for a civil case to take nine years to be concluded. Of course many cases moved faster than that, but nine years was far from the slowest case that I had encountered. Now Chief Judge Tun Zaki is announcing the launch of the New Civil Court in Kuala Lumpur, whose stated aim is to dispose of all new cases filed there within nine months.

You heard me right. From nine years to nine months. Does this mean we're finally a developed nation?

Run, Cary, run!

To my friends at the Bar in KL, my Brothers and Sisters in Law, I wish you well. Such expeditious dispensation of justice is a noble goal... but at what cost?

UPDATED TO ADD:

Today, our judicial officers and judges work very hard.   It is commonplace to hear of trials starting at 9 am and going on until 8pm.   But judges and lawyers are human.   If they are pushed beyond endurance, we may have to build a hospital almost as large the courthouse next to it.   While it is important to clear the backlog, it is equally important to ensure that true justice according to law is done.   As justice delayed is justice denied, so too is justice buried when hurried.

Gopal Sri Ram, former Federal Court Judge, full speech may be read here.