South Sudan’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted lawyers for Ambassador Ajing Deng Ajing five days to review the government’s response to a constitutional petition challenging his detention, and adjourned the case to April 30.

Defense counsel Kiir Chol and George Angier Ring requested time to study the submission after the government, named as respondent, filed its written reply during the session.

The court had earlier, on April 2, given the government 21 days to respond to the petition, which questions the legality of Ajing’s prolonged detention. Ajing, a former Executive Director in the Office of the President, has been held for months without formal charges or a court appearance, according to his lawyers, who argue the detention violates constitutional due process.

Proceedings were presided over by Chief Justice Benjamin Baak Deng and an eight-member panel.

The case is filed against the National Security Service and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, which had been granted three weeks to respond to an amended petition following an earlier government request for more time—an extension the court deemed reasonable despite objections from the defense.

The Constitutional Chamber also addressed procedural issues, affirming that parties may be represented by multiple accredited lawyers. It reiterated that English is the court’s working language and underscored the supremacy of the Transitional Constitution.

The bench further cautioned legal representatives over informal attire, emphasizing courtroom decorum, and announced an interim measure limiting representation of government institutions before the chamber to senior legal officials pending regulatory review.

Hearings resume April 30.