Kuhusu Wazee wa Baraza, Tazama Sheria mbili hapo chini zinasemaje:
Magistrate's Courts Act, Cap. 11, R.E. 2002.
6. Constitution of magistrates' courts
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 7, a magistrates' court shall be duly constituted when held by a single magistrate, being–
(a) in the case of a primary court, a primary court magistrate;
(b) in the case of a district court, a district magistrate resident or a magistrate;
(c) in the case of a court of a resident magistrate, a resident magistrate.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), where jurisdiction is conferred on a district court only when held by a magistrate of a particular description, such court shall not be duly constituted for the exercise of such jurisdiction unless held by a magistrate of that description.
(3) Where two or more magistrates of the same description are assigned to a particular magistrates' court each may hold sittings of the court concurrently with the other or others.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Justice may direct two or more magistrates of the same or other appropriate description to sit for the hearing and determination of any proceeding or any category thereof, and in any such case the court shall not be duly constituted for such proceeding nor any proceeding of such category, unless it is composed of the number and description of magistrates so directed.
(5) In any case where any proceeding is directed to be heard and determined by two or more magistrates, the same shall be determined in accordance with the opinion of the majority and if the court is equally divided the proceedings shall be dismissed.
[PCh11s7]7. Assessors
(1) In every proceeding in the primary court, including a finding, the court shall sit with not less than two assessors.
(2) All matters in the primary court including a finding in any issue, the question of adjourning the hearing, an application for bail, a question of guilt or innocence of any accused person, the determination of sentence, the assessment of any monetary award and all questions and issues whatsoever shall, in the event of difference between a magistrate and the assessors or any of them, be decided by the votes of the majority of the magistrates and assessors present and, in the event of an equality of votes the magistrate shall have the casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote.
(3) In any proceeding in any other magistrates' court in which any rule of customary or Islamic law is in issue or relevant the court may, and when directed by an appropriate judicial authority shall, sit with an assessor or assessors; and every such assessor shall be required, before judgment, to give his opinion as to all questions relating to customary or Islamic law in issue in, or relevant to, the proceeding; save that in determining the proceeding the court shall not be bound to conform with the opinion of the assessors.
The Criminal Procedure Act, Cap. 20, R. E. 2002.
298. Delivery of opinion by assessors and giving of judgment
(1) When the case on both sides is closed, the judge may sum up the evidence for the prosecution and the defence and shall then require each of the assessors to state his opinion orally as to the case generally and as to any specific question of fact addressed to him by the judge, and record the opinion.
(2) The judge shall then give judgment, but, in doing so, shall not be bound to conform to the opinions of the assessors.
(3) If the accused person is convicted, the judge shall pass sentence on him according to law.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the assessors, or any of them, from retiring to consider their opinions if they so wish or, during any such retirement or at any time during the trial, from consultation with one another.