Mandisa Maya

Mandisa Maya is a South African jurist and the Chief Justice of South Africa. She is the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of South Africa. Quotes “I’m not here simply because I am a woman. I’m a judge, and a worthy judge I think – I have proven myself over 22 years. It’s very important that I am a woman but I am not good because I am a woman. I am just a good woman judge.” Sunday Times “South Africa, very disappointingly, with our lofty Constitution and all the fancy laws that ensure that equality and human dignity are achieved in our lifetime, lags far behind many countries... even in the continent, insofar as diversifying its judiciary is concerned. It’s worse when it comes to putting women in leadership positions.” Daily Maverick “I enjoyed the intellectual rigor — the art of analyzing legal concepts and trying to balance the competing interests to achieve a fair result for all the parties, even those who lose. I found it thrilling.” Duke Law Magazine “I went about scouring the high courts for possible women candidates and found good women judges. I believe that if you look for people, you find them. And if they don’t have the necessary experience, you mentor and assist them.” Duke Law Magazine “No country will thrive if one half of its citizens are downtrodden. It has been proven across the world that when you put women in leadership positions who have empathy and understand the issues that affect women, things begin to change. And that gives women greater confidence in the judiciary.” Duke Law Magazine “It is generally expected that there will be moments in the life of a nation when it becomes necessary to pause, take stock, ask and answer honestly whether it is still walking in the direction of its founding values and ideals and if its institutions, including those entrusted with the administration of justice, are performing their function with the fidelity, courage, and the transformative force demanded by its Constitution.” UCT News “The tension between judicial independence and accountability is one of the defining challenges of judicial governance in any constitutional democracy. When a majority of citizens lack confidence in the courts, the constitutional promise of justice cannot be fully redeemed. Public trust is the source of judicial legitimacy. Without legitimacy, judicial authority is ultimately hollow.” UCT News “When all the genders are equitably represented, the justice system gains broader perspectives, richer insight, and deeper empathy, thereby enhancing its capacity to deliver justice impartially and inclusively. Therefore, ensuring gender balance within the judiciary is a vital step towards realising the whole promise of justice in society.” SABC News External links Category:South African women Category:South African judges Category:Women judges Category:Living people