I had the opportunity to travel with Moses Chione from the Paralegal Advisory Service Institute and Charles Msukwa of Amazing Grace Christian Ministry to the Mkukula Magistrate Court so that we could pay $20 fines for two women who otherwise must serve 6 months in prison.  The court was located about 45 minutes north of Lilongwe.  The court consisted of a brick building that comprised the clerk's office and Magistrate's chambers.  The actual court was outdoors.  Court was not in session so we went to the clerk's office.  There were six court employee's located in the clerk's office.  They were very friendly and happy to see us.  They hand wrote and stamped the orders necessary for the two women to be released. 

We were informed that the Magistrate was presiding over initial hearings at the Police Station.  This meant we needed to travel there to obtain the Magistrate's signature on the release orders.  As Court was in session, Moses went into the courtroom to see the Magistrate.  As Charles and I were waiting outside the Court, a woman dressed in a uniform walked over to me and asked why I was there.  I explained that I was a lawyer in the United States working with Moses to learn more about Malawi's court system.  She told me that she was a prosecutor and invited us to go into the Court with her.  She was very quick to explain that since they were handling the initial hearings at the police station, it was a make shift court room using plastic chairs and folding tables.  The courtroom was laid out very similar to the courtrooms here.  The only main difference was that the witness stand was off to the side of the prosecutor's table instead of in the front of the courtroom.  The hearing also proceeded similar to court proceedings here.  

Upon returning to Lilongwe we met with Lawyer Wesley Namasala to discuss working with our team by representing prisoners we are working with at bail application hearings or trials.  Wesley expressed a passion for the plight of the men and women in Malawi's prisons.  He also presented himself as a very capable lawyer.