Honourable Justice Dr Benjamin Baak Deng

Chief Justice, Supreme Court, South Sudan

Honourable Justice Dr Benjamin Baak Deng serves as Chief Justice of South Sudan. A distinguished jurist with a PhD in International Environmental Law, his illustrious career spans several decades across both Sudan and South Sudan, rising through the ranks from Judicial Legal Assistant to Supreme Court Judge before he was appointed Chief Justice.

Under his leadership, South Sudan’s judiciary has embarked on a comprehensive reform programme aimed at clearing extensive case backlogs, promoting meritorious judicial appointments, and modernising court operations through digitisation initiatives. Chief Justice Deng has placed strong emphasis on reinforcing judicial independence while tackling entrenched systemic challenges such as corruption and inefficiency. His unique combination of deep judicial experience and specialised expertise in environmental law equips him to address contemporary legal complexities with vision and integrity. His reform agenda embodies a transformative commitment to strengthening judicial institutions and fostering the rule of law in post-conflict contexts.