Postulates

 Rights, privileges, and duties that exist under

substantive law will ,for all intents and
purposes, be meaningless unless they can
be enforced.
 Procedural law is just as important as the
substantive law, indeed if not more so.
 Procedure is but a means to an end and is

not an end in it self.

 Ithas utility only in so far as it enables the
court to make a fair and proper disposition
of a case before it.
 Kaayyoo Leenjichaa
 Leenjifamtoon Xumura leenjii irratti:
 Tumaale heera SDFHH tiin walqabatan addaan ni
baasu.
 Sirna heeraa kabachiisuu fi ol’aantummaa seeraa
mirkaneessuu keessatti shooraa fi faaydaa SDFHH ni
hubatu.
 Rakkoowwan hiikkootii fi raawwii SDFHH tiin
walqabatan fi baay’innaan mula’tan addaan ni baasu.
 Hiikkoo qajeelaa fi seeruma qofa haala tilmaamaamaa
fi filatamaa ta’een hojirra oolchuuf gahumsaa fi
ogummaa isaan dandeessisu ni horatu.
 Ogummaa dhimmoota walxaxa ta’erratti haala salphaa
ta’een murtii kennuu isaan dandeessisu ni horatu.
 Civil litigations
1. Pre-action substantive matters.
 Once you contemplate an action the 1st
question is” In which country / Region/
court should proceeding be commenced? “
 Tracks ( Procedures to be followed)
2.Starting court Actions.
 Capacity to sue and to be sued.
 Who can or must join as a plaintiff and be joined
as a defendant.
 What claims may be joined as against a party or
parties.
 Institution of suit and service of process.
 Legal components of an action
 Liability and amount of claim, and
 Remedies (whose aim is to establish status,
or determine legal rights and duties )
 Damages ,

 Delivery of goods,

 Restitution ,
 Injunctions,

 Declaration,

 Specific performance,

 Rectification.
 Documents needed to commence
 Claim form with information to be
included in with sufficient copies
 Court fee

 Certificate of representation
4. Pre-trial proceedings
A. Pleading Stage
 Statement of claim
Technical Sufficiency
Legal Sufficiency- Examination of
Jurisdiction and cause of action
 Responding to claim
 Denial
 Admission

 Applications
 “ for security for costs
 “ for joinder of third parties
 Counterclaim

 Defenses and objection

 Limitations

 Set off
 Service of the proceeding
• What methods of service are available?
• Effects of non service?
B. First hearing
Appearance and Non-appearance of
parties,
Examination of parties

Ruling on preliminary objection

Early judgments

Frame issues
5. Trial
 How do the parties present the merit of their

case to the court?

 Production and examination of witnesses and

 Examination of documentary evidences

 How does the court decide who shall prevail?

6. Judgment and Decree

 Form and pronouncement of judgment
 Framing and contents of decree

 Expenses and costs of litigation

7. Interim Application
 Applications for dismissal
 setting aside dismissal,

 Adjournment and Time limit,

 striking out and exparte order,

 Amendment of pleadings,

 Costs & expense,

 Provisional Remedies ,
 Interventions, addition,& substitutions.
 8. Review of judgments
 By court of Rendition
 Opposition

 Procedural irregularities Art.207, 208

 Discovery of new matter Art. 6

 By appeal
 Admission and hearing of appeals
 By cassation (Revision)
 Application procedure for hearing of
cassation .
9. Execution of decrees
 Ifthe judgment is for the plaintiff, how
does he/she obtain satisfaction?
 courts executing Decrees

 Application and process of execution

 Modes of execution
 Attachment of property
 Investigating claims & objection

 Sale of property
10. After the case is closed questions
may arise as to the effect of the
judgment on future litigations.
Resjudicata, and

Splitting of claims.
 l
mm mm u
a a, H a a , B
i i k a rb
He e ka a a a c
raa fi B his
SD u’u
FH ura
H
 Maalummaa SDFHH
A. The Nature of Civil Procedure Law
 Civil procedure is that body of law which deals
with the processes of adjudicating a civil
case before a court of law
 What are these “processes” of adjudication?

 These include, but not limited to:

 Determination of court of jurisdiction
 The form & contents of pleadings
 The hearing of parties and their evidences
 The form & contents of judgments & decrees
 Reviews of decisions
Civilprocedure law tells us the “processes” we
need to employ to enforce our rights &
obligations defined by the substantive law.
Its focus is not on legal rights themselves, but
rather on what you can do about it when
someone violates your rights.
It is a ‘means to an end’; not an end in
itself- the end being the enforcement of
rights and obligations.
It is an “adjective” law---lacks its own
independent existence.
You don’t have it for the sake of it
You don’t apply its rules for the sake of nicety,
for the sake of formality
B. The Functions of Civil Procedure Law
 General function: enforcement of
substantive rights & obligations--its
ultimate objective
1. Ensures that the “outcomes of judicial
proceedings (judgments & decrees) are
consistent with the rules of substantive laws
2. Ensures that the “processes” of adjudication
is fair; the losing party must feel he has had
his ‘day in court’, i.e. the opportunity to
defend his rights even if he lost the case
 Kaayyoo SDFHH
 The d/ce b/n good and bad handling of procedure
can make the d/ce between winning and losing.
 Haqummaa mirkaneessuuf (justice)
 Falmitoonni firiiwwan dubbii falmii isaanii ifaan akka
dhiyeefatan taasisuun ijoo dubbii falmii isaanii addaan
baasuu;
 Gama wantoota falmiif fayyadan dhiyeeffachuutiin
falmitootaaf carraa walqixaa kennuu fi Falmitoota
walqixa keessumeessuun;
 To confine the parties to the presentation of
materials relevant to the real dispute and
helpful to its resolution.
 Falmiin sirnaan, haala madalawaa ta’een, yeroo
gabaaba keessatti fi baasii xiqqaan furmaata
akka argatuuf.
 In common law legal system the overriding objective of the
rules of civil litigation (CPC) is dealing with a case justly.
 Dealing with the case justly includes:-
 Ensuring that the parties are on an equal footing.

 Saving expenses, and ensuring that it is dealt with

expeditiously and fairly .

 Dealing with the case in ways which are
proportionate:-
• To the amount of money involved,

• To the importance of the case, or to complexity

of the case and ,to the parties financial position.

 The objectives of the rules of CPC are in general
dealing with the case justly, expeditiously , fairly ,and
proportionately.
 Practical Considerations.
 The effect of the overriding objectives is that
interpretation of the rules of CPC must be purposive
rather than a close analysis of individual words.
 Its interpretations and applications should be
guided by its ultimate objective of enforcing &
advancing substantive rights
 Utmost care must be taken so that substantive
rights should not be lost for the sake of procedural
nicety or due to wrong understanding and
application of procedural rules.
 The application of the rules and the use made of

them by the litigants must in general be

justified in terms of the aim of the overriding
objective.
 The court’s primary concern, in particular, must be
to create justice.
 ‘Doing justice’ means that the courts ought to

decide claims as far as possible on their merits, and

not reject them on grounds of procedural default.
 RULE 1. Scope of Rules: Applicability; Construction
(SDFHH biyya Ameerikaa Naanno Ohaayoo)
(B) Construction. These rules shall be construed
and applied to effect just results by eliminating
delay, unnecessary expense and all other
impediments to the expeditious administration
of justice.
 Kaayyoowwan kunniin yoo walfaallessan isa
kamitu caalmaa qabaachuu qaba jettu?
 In case of apparent contradiction between and among
the overriding objectives the need to achieve “justice”
will override.
 Fkn,himataan bellama yoo gaafate kaayyoo
dhimmicha si’oominaan ilaaluu ni faallessa (against
dealing with a case expeditiously).
 Garuu beellamichi murtii ykn ajaja haqa qabeessa

kennuuf yoo ta’e kaayyoo kanatu caala(the aim to

give justice override).
CPC rules should also be interpreted
in line with human right legislations.
 Especially with those that have direct

impact on CPR and litigation process.

 The right to fair hearing-is the right to submit
a claim to a judge. HMFDRI kwt.37
 The right to respect for private and family

life-in taking evidences.

 The right to freedom of expression...etc.
 The Objective of Civil Procedure Law of
Ethiopia
 No objective is expressly stated in the Ethiopian
Civil Procedure Code.
 Can you deduce its objective from its
nature?
 The efficient and effective administration
of civil justice?
 Efficient in term of time, energy, money
(cost) involved in litigation-cost cutting
 Effective in terms of decisions in line with
substantive law rules.
 MARII
 Kanaaf tumaaleen SDFHH keenya hiikuun
yoo barbaachise akkamitti hiikkamuu
qaban jettu?
 Addatti wanti xiyyeeffannoo barbaadu ni
jiraa?
 Yoo jiraate SDFHH keenya hogguu hiiknu
maal maal yaada keessa galchuu qabna?
 SDFHH keenya hogguu ilaallu,
 Bifa “decree” waan bayeef mariin seera baaftuu

irratti hin taasifne.

 Baay’een isaa SDFHH biyya Hindii irraa fudhatame.

Historical…..
 SDFHH dura Afaan Ingiliffaatiin wixineefamee Afaan

Amaaraatti hiikkame.
 Gramatical…..

 Loogikaal…….

 Tumaaleen warabbii Afaan Ingiliizii immoo baay’een

isaanii SDFHH biyya Hindii tiin walfakkaata.

 MARII
 kanaaf SDFHH keenya hogguu hiiknu
xiyyeefannoon keenya waraabbii kana irratti
ta’uu qabaa? Maaliif?
 Caalmaa qabaachuu Afaan Amaaraa “Nagaarit
Gaazexaa” irratti ibsame waliin akkamitti
ilaallama?
 Waraabbiiwwan keessaa Kaayyoo SDFHH
wajjiin kan deemu qofa filachuun ni
danda’amaa?
 Xiinxala dhimmaa 1ffaa
 Dhaddachi Ijibbaataa MMWF LG. 15835 ta’erratti
garaagarummaa warabbii afaan Amaraa fi Ingiliizii
kew. 70(a) ilaalchisee jiru akkasitti hiikeera:-
 Garaagarummaa hiikkaa gaafa uumamu waraabbii
afaan Amaaraa fudhachuun furmaata kennuun
filannoo tokko garuu,dhimma ammaa harkaa qabnu
ilaalchisee bu’uura kanaan deemuun dogongora
hiikkoo ifaan mul’atu akka itti fufu godhuu ta’a.
 Garaagarummaa hiikkoo kana kaayyoo seericha
mirga dhagayamuu himataa caalmatti kan
mirkaneessuu ta’uu isaatii fi waliigala kaayyoo
bulchiinsa haqaa galmaan waan ga’uuf warabbii
afaan Ingillizii hordofuu filanneera” jechuun
murteesseera.
 MARII
 Murtiin armaan olii irraa hiikkoo tumaalee
SDFHH ilaalchisee maaltu hubatama?
 Dh/Ij/M/M/W/F dhimma murtii armaan oliitiif
bu’uura ta’e qofaaf moo? SDFHH akka
waliigalaatti haala itti hiikkamuu qabu kan
agarsiisuu dha?
 Tumaaleen SDFHH bu’uura hafuura tumaalee
mirgootaa fi bilisummaawwan bu’uuraa
Heeraatiin hiikkamuu qaba jettuu?
 Gama kanaan kallattiin fuulduraa maal ta’uu
qaba jettanii yaaddu?
 The Two Models of Civil Procedure
A. The Adversarial Model
 Common law system
 Parties lead the proceedings
 Judge acts as a neutral arbiter
 His position is passive :doesn’t undertake any
independent investigation into the subject matter of
the dispute
 His role is not to find the ultimate truth
 His duty is to oversee the proceedings and to ensure
that all aspects of the procedure are respected
 He doesn’t himself interrogate the witnesses, his main
task is to ensure that the questions put by the parties
are relevant
 At the end, he decides the case according to the more
B. The Inquisitorial Model
 A Civil Law System
 Judge leads the proceedings, plays more active
role, e.g. by questioning witnesses and
formulating issues
 His main role is establishing the material truth on
the basis of available evidence
 He doesn’t have to wait for the counsels to
present evidence, but he can actively initiate
introducing evidence and may order a party to
disclose evidence in his possession
 Judge’s duty is not only deciding the case according
to the stronger evidence, but also to ascertain the
truth and then to make a just decision
 Discussion Question:
 what is the underlying theory that explains the
d/c in the role of court b/n common law and
civil law systems?
 Whose duty is it to help find truth?
What are the Sources of civil procedure law in
Ethiopia?
A. The FDRE Constitution: on matters of:
 The type and structure of courts,
 The division of judicial power b/n federal
and state,
 The relationship between federal and state
courts
B. The Civil Procedure Code, 1965
 An Imperial Decree- No clear legislative history
 Indian origin
 Basically adversarial
 Meant for the then unitary gov’t
 Difficulties to apply it to the current federal
C. Federal and state laws ,Examples:
 Federal courts Proc.No.25/88,
 Federal courts Proc. 321/95
 Federal courts Proc.138/91
 Oromia courts Proc. Megeleta Oromia No.
141/2000
 They deal with the structure & jurisdiction of their
respective courts- a subject for civil pro.
D. Other substantive laws, such as :
 the Civil Code,
 the Commercial Code,
 the Family Code, etc containing rules of
procedural nature.
E. Judicial decisions, e.g. per Proc. No.454/2005
 MARII
 Whose jurisdiction is it to legislate on the law of
civil procedure in Ethiopia? Federal? State, or
concurrent power?
 Check out Article 55 of the FDRE
Constitution.
 States have power to legislate their own code
of civil procedure should they desire
 A Civil Procedure Code for Oromia?
 Does the State of Oromia need its own Code of Civil
Procedure?
 If so, which model do you think better serves the
interests of the people of Oromia? Adversarial
model, inquisitorial model, or a balanced blend of
the two models?
 Does the culture/tradition of the Oromo people favor
passive or active judge?
 How do you view the role of “jaarsaa” in the process
of settling dispute per the Oromo culture? Is he
passive or active in the process of finding truth?
 SDFHH fi Heera
 Heera FDRI fi heera MNO kew. 37(1) jalatti:
 Namni kamiiyyuu,dhimma murtiidhaan murtaayuu
qabu, M/M tti ykn qaama biroo kan aangoon Abbaa
seerummaa seeraan kennameefitti, dhiyeessuu fi
murtii argachuudhaaf mirga ni qaba.
 Heerota lameen kwt. 37(2)(a) jalatti dhimma
akkanaa waldaan kamiiyyuu faaydaa gamtaa
yookiin dhuunfaa miseensota bakka bu’uun;
 Bu’uura Kwt.37(2)(b) tiin immoo gartuun(group)

ykn namoota dantaa walfakkaataa qaban namni

bakka bu’u ykn miseensi gartuu kamiiyyuu
gaafachuu fi argachuu mirga ni qabu.
 Heera lameen jalattu iyyanni bakka bu’ummaa
akkanaa yoom, akkamittii fi haala kamiinii dhiyaachuu
akka qabu tumaaleen tarreeffamaa hin jiran.
 Kanaaf SDFHH dhimmoota kanneen ilaalchisee
raawwatiinsa ni qaba jechuun ni danda’ama?
 [.kwt.65,57,34,58-62 fi 63.]

 Namni iyyata dhiyeefatu nama mirga himachuu qabu

ykn nama nama sana bakka bu’uudha.
 Bu’uura SDFHHL 34 fi kwt. 58-63 alatti nama

dhimma falmiif bu’uura ta’erraa mirga hin qabneef

bakka bu’ummaan hin kennamu.
 SDFHHL 38 fi 67 tiin bakka kan bu’uu danda’u

nama faayidaa walfakkaatu qabuu dha.

 MARII
1.Kanaaf bu’uura kwt.37(2)(a)(b) Heerota lameeniitiin
haalli namoonni faayidaa ykn mirga hin qabne (Fkn
waldaan ykn a group ykn person who is a
member of, or represents a group with similar
interest) bu’uura SDFHHL 38 fi 67 tiin bakka itti bu’an
ni jiraa?
2. MM tokko tokko waldaa nama dhuunfaatiif bakka
bu’uu ni dhoorgu, isaan kuun immoo dhoorguun al-
heerummaa jechuun bakka bu’ummaa ni eeyyamu.
 Ejjannoo isa kamitu dhama qabeessa fakkaata?

3.Bakka bu’aan himannoo irratti maqaa ofii caqasuu ni

danda’aa?
 Cases, P. 85-86

 Jildii 9ffaa, 125