Judge, Litigant Killed in Shooting Inside Oromia Courtroom

June 5, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

A judge and a female litigant were shot dead inside a courtroom in Ethiopia’s Oromia region on Thursday after an armed defendant allegedly opened fire during an ongoing hearing, according to local legal advocacy group Access to Justice Initiative Ethiopia.

The incident occurred at the Wolmera Woreda Court in Holeta, where Judge Worke Fekansa was reading a ruling in a family dispute case when the accused reportedly drew a firearm and shot her inside the courtroom.

The female litigant involved in the same case was also killed after being struck by gunfire allegedly fired by the defendant during the attack.

The killings have triggered widespread condemnation among legal professionals and social media users, with renewed concerns emerging over security procedures inside Ethiopian courts.

Access to Justice Initiative Ethiopia said the incident exposed serious weaknesses in courtroom security and screening systems, questioning how an armed individual was able to enter a court hall carrying a weapon.

The organisation described the attack as deeply alarming and called attention to the need for stronger protection measures for judicial officials and court users.