The Judge who could not hide his love for Tanzania also mentioned the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the Tanzanian founding father, as one of the heroes of democracy in Africa who also was a role model to many.
“Tanzania is a friendly country and has attracted many in the world but all this is a result of good leadership of your Father of The Nation, Mwalimu (Julius) Nyerere....I was attracted by the history of your leadership since I was a school kid,” said the Judge who was speaking with a group of nine Tanzanian journalists who visited the court in their month long exchange program tenable at the University of Maine (Umaine).
Woodcock who is an appointee of the Bush administration three years ago, pointed further that compared to other neighboring countries like Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe Tanzania political leadership has distinguished itself from encouraging political violence to remain a democratic state.
He said when he was school kid such a political leadership named together with such tourist attractions like the famous Mount Kilimanjaro and The Serengeti National Park attracted him to know more about the East African country.
“Today I feel honored to host journalists coming from a country I loved most since my school days. I will take this opportunity to advise you that when you go back home continue writing objective stories to move ahead your society and cast a good example to your neighbors,” he insisted.
Earlier the visiting junos attended a court session presided by Judge Woodcock in which the court was in session to read a sentence for a Maine resident who was accused of burglary and unlawful possession of a weapon.
In the two hour session, Judge Woodcock found the accused guilty of the two felonies, to sentence the named McCurth (52) who was defended by a private advocate Jeffrey Silverstein, to 17 years in imprisonment
After the sentencing the Judge, in a light moment with the visiting junos said sometimes its difficult for him to keep his humanity outside the cases.
“There are times when I feel like crying when I send someone to jail but I have to follow what the law says, because otherwise I will be promoting evils,” said the Judge.
Unlike in Tanzania, the visitors saw that the court was highly furnished with modern tools including computers, microphones and the Judge was also aided by a number of staff and the sessions were conducted in a brotherly way and the accused was at each stage informed of his rights and obligations by the judge.
The Tanzanian journalists are in a third week at the Umaine and will next week move to Washington DC for more practical training and media attachments. The program is funded by the American people through United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Tanzania office.
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