It is still early when Magistrate Muhammed Krubally arrives at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, stepping into a world built entirely for the sighted. According to Al Jazeera, he listens to his clerk review day-to-day files, prepares to preside over a packed courtroom, and listens intently as lawyers, witnesses, and relatives present their cases.
Al Jazeera reported that Krubally cannot see the people before him, yet he builds a clear picture of the courtroom through sound, memory, and rhythm. To navigate his computer, read documents, and deliver judgements, he uses JAWS—Job Access With Speech—alongside AI-enabled smart glasses to carry out tasks independently, relying on his clerk when necessary. At 41 years of age, Krubally has presided over more than 1,000 civil and criminal cases since joining the bench, as noted by Al Jazeera.
Background
Al Jazeera reported that in 2016, Krubally became the Gambia’s first visually impaired magistrate, a milestone confirmed by the Gambia Organisation of the Visually Impaired (GOVI). Long before taking his place on the bench, he grew up as the second of nine children in a village within the Gambia’s Central River Region. From an early age, his ambition to become a lawyer was driven by a desire to defend his own rights and to advocate for others, aiming to be "the voice for the voiceless," particularly people with disabilities.
Throughout his education from primary school through university, Al Jazeera noted that Krubally encountered limited resources and an education system filled with obstacles not faced by his sighted classmates. Despite being discouraged from pursuing his goals by some teachers and fellow students, those very doubts strengthened his resolve. These formative experiences ultimately shaped his decision to enter the judiciary with the clear goal of changing the system to make it inclusive, though joining the institution meant continuing to confront longstanding barriers.
Why it matters
For readers observing legal systems and public institutions around the world, this account highlights the ongoing intersection of accessibility, assistive technology, and institutional reform. It demonstrates how modern tools like screen readers and AI-enabled devices can assist professionals with visual impairments in carrying out complex public duties. At the same time, the reporting underscores the persistent structural challenges that individuals with disabilities face when navigating systems historically designed without their needs in mind.