Amy Shupikai Tsanga: Reflections on the Influence of Grounded Experiences in Becoming a High Court Judge

Social justice, gender and judging, social activism. The chapter reflects on how childhood experiences, particularly observations of daily life within the community I grew up, impacted on a career path grounded in social justice issues. Professionally, it reflects on how my career path as an activist making law accessible to grassroots communities, and then later moving on to academia with an emphasis on teaching and research on gender issues, were vital stepping-stones to ultimately joining the bench. It draws on some of the cases I handled, particularly on gender violence to make the point of law’s connectedness with other disciplines. While courts can play their role in punishing offenders, what has become even clearer is the need to consolidate action at various fronts such as the family, the community, and schools. Finally, it addresses the challenges of joining the bench while not coming from traditional fields of private practice or magistracy and my experiences in navigating these different backgrounds.