KABUL – Chief Justice (CJ) on Wednesday called for the eradication of corruption from government departments, particularly judicial organs, calling the scourge a stain on their reputation.
Professor Abdul Salam Azimi told graduating judges at the Supreme Court in Kabul to prioritize dispensation of justice, good behavior with the public and enforcement of law.

US Embassy Justice Attaché David Schwendiman, USAID Deputy Mission Director James Stein and other officials also attended the Judicial Stage graduation ceremony.
The two-year training program prepares law, Shariah and madrassa graduates for appointment as the next generation of judges. Of this year's 123 graduates, 23 are women.

Besides providing technical assistance in the development of the curriculum and training on teaching methodologies, the USAID provides one third of the funding for the first year and the entire second year of the program.

Remarkably, the overwhelming majority of the top graduates are female for the second consecutive year. Nine women judges were among the top 10 graduates last year, while eight of them made it to the top 10 this year.

In his speech, the chief justice said: "We want you to be committed, heart and soul, to your profession. Promise Allah and the people to uphold the principles of justice…"

"A good judge has to discharge his/her responsibility in line with Allah's order, teachings of Shariah and public expectations of justice," Azimi remarked, calling the anti-graft drive one of the Supreme Court's priorities.
Schwendiman also addressed the graduates, saying: "The US government is proud to be a part of the judicial education experience in Afghanistan, helping Chief Justice Azimi and others realize their vision for the robust and independent judiciary Afghanistan needs to serve its people well now, and into the future.

"I am particularly pleased, as I know Ambassador (Ryan) Crocker and Secretary (of State) Clinton would be, to note the number of women graduates in this class," the justice attaché added.
One of the women graduates, Hasina, acknowledged they had been trained on laws, Shariah and justice. She told Pajhwok Afghan News that she would do all she could to combat corruption and serve the masses to the best of her ability. (Pajhwok)