Chan Reec Madut

Chan Reec Madut is a South Sudanese jurist who served as chief justice of the South Sudan Supreme Court from 2011 to 2025. Appointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Madut's tenure as chief justice was noted for its corruption, nepotism, favouritism to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, and partisanship.

Chan Reec Madut
2nd Chief Justice of the South Sudan Supreme Court
In office 15 August 2011 – 28 May 2025
Preceded by	John Woul Makec
Succeeded by	Benjamin Bak Deng

Career

During the 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum Madut was head of the southern bureau of Southern Sudan Referendum Commission.^[1] On 15 August 2011, President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed John Woul Makec, chief justice of the South Sudan Supreme Court, and selected Madut, who was Makec's deputy, to replace him.^[2] Madut served until he and Deputy Chief Juistce John Gatwech Lul were removed by Kiir and replaced by Benjamin Bak Deng on 28 May 2025.^[3]

Madut's tenure as chief justice was noted for its corruption, nepotism, and favouritism to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.^[3] In 2013, Madut appointed 78 legal assistants, including his daughter, without following the proper processes and were instead personally handpicked. Justice Clement Kuc, in his 2013 letter of resignation, accused Madut of "nepotism, favouritism, and lack of strategic direction". Madut appointed 15 judges to lower courts in 2015, despite the fact that only the president could appoint judges. In 2016, he praised Kiir for increasing the number of states from 10 to 28 despite the fact that the president lacks the constitutional powers to do so.^[4] In 2023, he endorsed Kiir's candidacy in the presidential election.