Also known as: JSC
Constitutional body that oversees judicial appointments and recruitment in Namibia, including prosecutor general, judges, and acting judges.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Judicial Service Commission
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Judicial Service Commission concluded that none of the eight candidates met the required standard
“After reviewing the results, the commission concluded that none of the candidates met the required standard.”
No one makes the cut in PG race – JSCInformanté
Judicial Service Commission announced appointment of Justice Dr Michael Charles Mtambo as Acting Judge of High Court for three years, effective 1 June 2026
“THE Judicial Service Commission has announced the appointment of Justice Dr Michael Charles Mtambo as an Acting Judge of the High Court for a period of three years, effective from 1 June 2026.”
Dr Mtambo appointed as Acting High Court JudgeThe Namibian
Judicial Service Commission extended Martha Imalwa's contract by one additional year
“In December last year, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced it had extended Imalwa's contract by an additional year, allowing her to remain in position until December this year.”
Five shortlisted for PG positionThe Namibian
Judicial Service Commission stated appointment of three non-Namibian judges is intended as temporary measure
“The appointment of three non-Namibian judges for Namibia's High Court is intended to be a temporary measure to address a shortage of judges who handle civil cases in the court, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) says.”
Non-Namibian judges meant to ease pressure of civil casesInformanté
Judicial Service Commission decided to recruit limited number of foreign judges on fixed-term contracts for High Court civil stream
“THE Judicial Service Commission has explained that it decided to recruit a limited number of foreign judges on fixed-term contracts to serve in the civil stream of the High Court of Namibia in an effort to reduce case backlogs.”
Recruitment of foreign judges in High Court intended to reduce case backlogsInformanté
Judicial Service Commission received only five nominations for civil stream judicial appointments in August 2025
“In the most recent evaluation, held in August 2025, the Commission received only five nominations.”
Recruitment of foreign judges in High Court intended to reduce case backlogsInformanté
Judicial Service Commission decided to recruit qualified retired or former judges from southern African jurisdictions on fixed-term contracts
“The appointments follow the Judicial Service Commission's decision to recruit a limited number of qualified retired or former judges from comparable southern African jurisdictions on fixed-term contracts to assist in the civil stream of the High Court of Namibia.”
New judges appointed to the High CourtInformanté
Judicial Service Commission is reviewing existing framework to enhance attractiveness of judicial service
“He reassured magistrates that the Judicial Service Commission, as the body mandated to make recommendations on judges' remuneration and conditions of service, is reviewing the existing framework to enhance the attractiveness of judicial service.”
Namibian judges buckling under the caseloadThe Namibian
The Judicial Service Commission comprises the chief justice, deputy chief justice, attorney general and two legal profession members
“The president appoints permanent judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) which comprises the chief justice, the deputy chief justice, the attorney general and two members of the legal profession nominated by professional organisations representing the legal profession.”
The Independence and Competence of JudgesThe Namibian
Judicial Service Commission has embraced constructive criticism by having public interviews for selecting judges
“The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) must be applauded for embracing constructive criticism by having public interviews when it comes to selecting judges.”
We Can’t Afford Low Standards for JudgesThe Judicial Service Commission has released the names of six applicants for the prosecutor general post, which acting prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has held since 2004. The commission is finalising its recruitment process with a two-stage selection involving a written assessment and public interviews.
9 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Judicial Service Commission has released the names of six applicants for the prosecutor general post, which acting prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has held since 2004. The commission is finalising its recruitment process with a two-stage selection involving a written assessment and public interviews.
9 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Chief Justice Johan Strydom, who died on 25 September 2026 at age 88, was honoured at a valedictory court session for his role in establishing post-independence judicial principles of dignity, equality, access to justice, and administrative fairness during his nearly four-decade career.
1 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Political parties have called on deputy chief justice and judge president Petrus Damaseb to reject his nomination to serve on Tanzania's post-election violence commission of inquiry. Job Amupanda and the Independent Patriots for Change cite concerns over the process, Namibia's silence on alleged human rights abuses, and international criticism of previous Tanzanian inquiries, arguing that Damaseb's participation could lend credibility to a commission of uncertain independence.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Affirmative Repositioning movement has criticised the Namibian government's decision to nominate Judge President and Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb to serve on a Tanzanian Presidential Commission of Inquiry into violence following Tanzania's October 2025 general election. AR accuses the authorities of compromising judicial independence and enabling a political whitewash of alleged human rights abuses.
6 August 2026 · Informanté →
Opposition parties AR and IPC have accused the Namibian government of compromising judicial independence by nominating deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb to serve on a Tanzanian Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating post-election violence. AR contends the nomination was a political act facilitated through government channels rather than proper judicial cooperation.
6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb has been nominated to serve on a Tanzanian presidential commission of inquiry investigating violence that followed Tanzania's October 2025 general elections, following a request from Tanzanian authorities for a Namibian High Court judge to join the commission.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus Damaseb, Namibia's deputy chief justice, has been nominated to serve on a Tanzanian presidential commission of inquiry investigating post-election violence following Tanzania's 2025 general elections. The Judicial Service Commission said Damaseb's judicial and administrative experience made him suitable for the sensitive role, and arrangements will be made to ensure his Namibian judicial duties continue without disruption.
5 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Medical doctor Dennis Noa, arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 26-year-old man at a public hospital premises, asked the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court to grant him bail so he can return to his duties. The state opposed bail, citing rape as a serious offence and arguing that release could risk witness interference, further offences, or absconding.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece critiques the Judicial Service Commission's process for appointing a prosecutor general, noting that all eight candidates failed the examination and raising concerns about the selection process's credibility, the justice system's slowness, and the need for candidates with management skills and demonstrated impartiality.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian editorial argues that senior officials—advisers, executive directors, chief executives and civil servants—have a duty to speak truth to power and not remain silent to stay close to authority, citing the upcoming transitions of the prosecutor general and Anti-Corruption Commission director general.
14 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Martha Imalwa, the acting prosecutor general, says she is looking forward to leaving office at the end of the year. The Judicial Service Commission has restarted recruitment for a substantive prosecutor general after none of the eight shortlisted candidates met the required standard in a written assessment.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
An editorial argues that the recruitment of Namibia's next Prosecutor-General following Advocate Martha Imalwa's departure at year-end is a test of the country's commitment to transparency and the rule of law, and that the Judicial Service Commission must complete the process in a timely and professional manner.
11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Judicial Service Commission has abandoned its shortlisted candidates for Prosecutor-General after all eight failed a written assessment designed to test legal knowledge and analytical ability; the highest score was 49%, below the required 50% pass mark.
11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Judicial Service Commission found that none of the eight shortlisted candidates for prosecutor general met the required standard in a written assessment, forcing the commission to restart the recruitment process. The candidates achieved scores between 30% and 49%, failing to demonstrate the level of legal knowledge and competency expected for the position.
10 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Judicial Service Commission has appointed Justice Dr Michael Charles Mtambo as an Acting Judge of the High Court for three years, effective from 1 June 2026. Dr Mtambo previously served as a Judge of the High Court of Malawi from 2007 to 2022, sitting in both the Commercial Division and the Constitutional Court.
5 June 2026 · Informanté →
Five legal professionals have been shortlisted for the position of prosecutor general as incumbent Martha Imalwa's tenure ends. The candidates include former deputy prosecutor general Taswald July, former prosecutor Salomon Kanyemba, chief prosecutor Lucious Matota, and deputy prosecutors general Henry Muhongo and Ruben Shileka.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Gladice Pickering was sworn in as an Acting Judge of the High Court on Monday, serving from 16 March to 30 June 2026. Her appointment requires temporary replacement in her role as executive director at the Office of the Prime Minister, with Shivute Indongo taking over the position.
18 March 2026 · New Era →
The Judicial Service Commission says it has appointed three judges from southern African countries to Namibia's High Court on fixed-term contracts to address a shortage of civil judges caused by retirements and the reluctance of senior legal practitioners to accept permanent positions. The commission states the measure is temporary while it develops domestic solutions, including a training programme for aspirant judges.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Judicial Service Commission has decided to hire a limited number of foreign judges on fixed-term contracts to serve in the High Court's civil stream to reduce case backlogs. The Commission said the move became necessary because domestic candidates, particularly magistrates, lack the specialised expertise in civil law required for complex civil cases, and senior legal practitioners have been reluctant to accept permanent judicial positions.
10 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Office of the Judiciary has appointed five judges to the High Court, including three from other southern African countries on temporary contracts to address capacity constraints in the civil stream. The appointments are part of a temporary measure while longer-term domestic solutions are pursued.
10 March 2026 · Informanté →
Chief Justice Peter Shivute reported that average caseloads per civil judge jumped nearly 60% between 2024 and 2025 as judicial vacancies mounted, while Magistrates' Courts backlogs grew 11.5% to over 63,000 cases. The judiciary is exploring recruitment from SADC countries to address critical staffing gaps.
6 February 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's Constitution and legislation establish multiple safeguards for judicial independence, including direct budget allocation to the judiciary, qualification requirements for judges, appointment through the Judicial Service Commission, removal protections, and ethical guidelines that prevent conflicts of interest and political interference.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →