The High Court has announced a 24-day Christmas recess that will run from December 21, 2026, to January 13, 2027, with both dates included. Principal Judge Eric Ogola made the announcement in an official gazette notice, stating that the recess will also cover the Employment and Labour and Environment and Land courts.“The Christmas Recess of the High Court and Courts of Equal Status shall commence on the 21st December, 2026, and terminate on the 13th January, 2027, both days inclusive,” the notice read. In addition, the notice outlined how judicial services will be handled during the holiday period to ensure that litigants can still access essential court services and have urgent matters addressed during the recess.“For avoidance of doubt, Recess Duty Judges shall be appointed to hear and try matters arising during Recess in accordance with the High Court (Practice and Procedure) Rules,” the notice instructed.Presiding judges at individual High Court stations and divisions have been instructed to appoint the judges assigned to handle urgent cases. The principal judges at the Employment and Environment courts will make the corresponding appointments for their jurisdictions. At stations served by a single judge, cases arising during the recess will be referred to the nearest High Court station with an assigned duty judge.The presiding judge at each affected station is expected to display information about the temporarily designated station on its notice board. Court offices and registries will continue serving members of the public throughout the recess on weekdays, except public holidays. The facilities will remain open from 8am to 5pm, allowing the public to access registry services during the scheduled break.The Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and subordinate courts are yet to announce their Christmas recess dates, although they are also expected to take a break during the season.
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