On 24 July 2025, the Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA), in partnership with the Association of Regional Magistrates of Southern Africa (ARMSA) and Equality Now, hosted Balance on the Bench—a special webinar marking International Judicial Well-being Day. The event brought together judicial leaders and wellness experts to address the importance of mental health, resilience, and balance in the judiciary, placing JIFA at the forefront of promoting this vital conversation across Africa.

Setting the Global Context

The session opened with Judge José Matos, Court of Appeal Judge in Porto, Advisory Board Member of the Global Judicial Integrity Network, and co-author of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being. Judge Matos outlined the global vision behind dedicating a day to judicial well-being, emphasising that judges often face intense workloads, isolation, and public scrutiny. The Nauru Declaration calls on judicial systems worldwide to make well-being a professional priority, safeguarding judicial integrity and independence.

Experiences from the Bench

The panel discussion brought the issue into sharp focus through the lived experiences of:

• Judge Jakkie Wessels, Regional Court President, Limpopo Regional Division (South Africa) and ARMSA member

• Judge Mathilda Twomey, former Chief Justice of Seychelles and JIFA Academic Head

Both shared candid accounts of the pressures of judicial work, from managing overwhelming caseloads to navigating the emotional weight of complex cases. They spoke openly about the stigma that can still surround mental health in the judiciary and stressed the importance of peer support, ongoing learning, and taking deliberate time for rest and reflection.

Practical Tools for Resilience

An expert session with Dr Hélène Smit, a specialist in conflict and stress management who has worked extensively with African judiciaries, provided practical, actionable tools. Dr Smit guided participants through methods for managing stress, improving emotional regulation, making mindful decisions, and creating healthier work-life rhythms. She reinforced the message that well-being is not an optional extra—it is essential for sustaining clarity, fairness, and resilience on the bench.

Why Judicial Well-being Matters

Judicial well-being directly affects the quality of justice delivered. An overburdened and unsupported judiciary risks diminished decision-making capacity, reduced public trust, and compromised independence. For JIFA, embedding well-being into judicial training programmes aligns with its broader mission to:

• Strengthen judicial training institutions

• Support continuous professional development

• Foster knowledge exchange and best practice sharing among judicial officers

Continuing the Conversation

The Balance on the Bench webinar made clear that well-being must be embedded into judicial culture as a core aspect of professional excellence. JIFA will continue to integrate mental health, stress management, and personal resilience into its training programmes, ensuring that judicial officers are supported to serve with both skill and sustainability.

Watch the recording to hear first-hand insights from the panel and explore practical strategies for maintaining balance, integrity, and resilience on the bench.

JIFA: Advancing excellence and integrity in Africa’s judiciaries.