Justice James Kalaile dies
Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal (retired) James Kalaile died Thursday morning, Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Gladys Gondwe said Thursday.
She, however, said family members were yet to release the programme for the funeral.
“It is true [that Justice James Kalaile has died]. The family is yet to announce burial arrangements,” she said.
After retiring from the Judiciary, Kalaile picked up a job in the academia at Catholic University of Malawi, where he was Director of Legal Affairs from March 2013.
While in the Judiciary, he served in many portfolios including that of Justice of Appeal at the Supreme Court, served as a Commonwealth judge between 2008 and 2010 and at Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Court between February 1997 and July 2003.
He also served as chairperson for the Malawi Electoral Commission between 1999 and 2004.
He resigned as chairperson barely three months after presiding over the 2004 general elections which the main opposition block then, Mgwirizano Coalition, led by the late Gwanda Chakuamba, challenged.
Kalaile at some point also served as acting chief justice.
Even after retiring from the Judiciary, Kalaile kept preaching about the importance of maintaining integrity among lawyers in the country.
Speaking during the opening of an intensive seminar on best practices for lawyers in February 2017, Kalaile said lawyers must protect the integrity of the industry at all times.
“The legal sector and, indeed, the justice system as a whole is held in high esteem anywhere in the world. So, any flaw in the way lawyers handle themselves could bring into question the sector’s integrity, a thing we must avoid at all times,” Kalaile said.
