Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Judge Urges Bar to Address Legal Delays
Judge Nagarathna said lawyers should think carefully about how they serve people who need legal help.
She pointed to rising legal costs and delays in the courts.
She said the legal profession has responsibilities beyond representing individual clients.
Lawyers should help protect democracy and respect the authority of courts.
They should also support justice and the rule of law.
She reminded the profession that lawyers contributed to the national movement.
Lawyers also helped create the Constitution.
Her message was that the bar should examine whether it is fulfilling these important responsibilities.
Judge Nagarathna said the legal profession must reconsider its usefulness to litigants.
She flagged rising costs and delays in the legal system.
She urged the bar to examine its role in protecting democracy and upholding courts’ authority.
She stressed the profession’s importance to justice, the rule of law and the Constitution.
She recalled that lawyers played an important role in the national movement and Constitution-making.
- Who
- Judge Nagarathna addressed the legal profession, or bar.
- What
- She called on the bar to reflect on its role amid rising legal costs and delays.
- Why
- She said the bar must better serve litigants and help uphold democracy, courts, justice and the rule of law.
- Speaker
- Judge Nagarathna
- Main concern
- Rising costs and delays in the legal system
- Audience
- The bar, or legal profession
- Public responsibility
- Serving the litigant public
- Democratic role
- Safeguarding democracy
- Legal role
- Upholding justice and the rule of law
- Historical contribution
- Participation in the national movement and Constitution-making