Administrators of the federal courts are awaiting legislative approval to unfasten administrative and non-judicial staff from the civil service structure. Judicial officials say the move is necessary to impede staff turnover plaguing the country's courts and attract talent.

The administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has been trying to reform the justice system since 2018. A council advising judicial reforms, comprising 15 members of former judges, lawyers, and academics, was established to ensure judicial autonomy the following year. Under Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi, the council oversees the administrative and service procedures changes. Redesigning the court structures and the judicial administration are among its preoccupations.

The Federal Court law saw four amendments since its initial passage in 1996. The last change was made 15 years ago.

Parliament ratified a law last year, allowing federal courts to manage their budgets and recruit staff independently. The courts determine their own budget, pending approval from Parliament. It rubber stamped a 289 million Br budget for the judiciary this year.

The Federal Judicial Administration Council, comprising representatives from each of the three tiers of the federal court system, hires and administer judges. Nonetheless, supporting staff have remained under the civil service structure, where the pay scale makes hiring and retaining staff has been challenging to judicial administrators.

The Federal Supreme Court requires 930 non-judicial administration staff but operates with 614 personnel. Solomon Ejigu, public relations director at the Supreme Court, blames low salaries and stiff hiring procedures of the Civil Service Commission. The same goes for the Federal High Court, which requires over 1,500 supporting staff for its seven branches, including Dire Dawa and a centre in Hawassa. It counts 875 among its non-judicial personnel.

“The supporting staff is expected to shoulder heavy workload, but they're paid low salaries,” said Solomon. “While these pushes personnel to quit, it also makes the jobs less attractive in the eyes of potential job seekers.”

Over 70 court clerks at the Federal High Court make an average salary of 2,000 Br a month, while custodial staff receive half as much.

Misganaw Chanie, director of human resource management at the Federal High Court, believes branching out from the civil service structure would give the institutions the autonomy and power to fill with qualified staff.

“Employees who shoulder heavy workloads should be compensated better,” said Misganaw.

He had served in the committee that drafted the regulation.

The Federal First Instance Court has around 1,800 personnel working in non-judicial positions, which officials claim does not meet half the workforce needed to process the 128,000 cases the Court handled through its 11 branches last year. First Instance Courts had jurisdictions over civil suits involving up to half a million Birr; a ceiling increased to 10 million Br beginning last year.

For a year and a half now, Alemnew Shumo has been working at the information desk of the Federal First Instance Court in Lideta. He earns a gross monthly salary of 2,300 Br. Initially, his tasks were limited to providing information and directions to people visiting the court to attend hearings. However, as the number of staff working as clerks delivering a summons, orders and verdicts dwindled, Alemnew took additional responsibilities.

"Several staff members have been leaving due to the workload," he said.