Amid Pres. Boakai’s Promise To Review Concerns Of Justices And Judges
PHOTO: Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie has acknowledged the fact that public confidence in the justice system is not improving, partly due to the attitude and behavior of some actors in this sector–justices, judges, magistrates and judicial employees and lawyers.
Justice Wolokolie was speaking during the opening of the March term A.D. 2024 term of the Supreme Court on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Based on the numerous complaints raised in the opening address of Justice Wolokolie and the Liberian National Association President Sylvester Rennie, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has promised them to review their concerns and report back to them.
According to her, changes in the administration of Justice, is not yielding any fruits because, they were in practice of doing business as usual which she challenged her colleagues to change that habit.
“it is a fact that no Matter how much public awareness we provide to the Liberian public on the transformation taking place at the Liberian Judiciary, public confidence in the justice system will not improve if the attitude and behavior of the Justice sector actors including justices, judges, magistrates and judicial employees and lawyers particular do not change from doing business as usual.”
Wolokolie who proxy for Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh who is Turkey, said the rebranding agenda of the Yuoh administration is to reorientate every justice actors to its mission and vision.
“We are expect inputs towards effecting this agenda because it’s gear toward instituting drastic behavior change by justice sector actors who are cardinal players in the administration of Justice.”
According to her, they have embarked on phrase one of the reorientation exercise of the justice sector actors beginning with Judicial employees. “A team led by Director of Judicial public information was in the southeast region during the month of February 2024 holding engagement workshops with judicial employees on the New five year strategic plan of judiciary (rebranding the Liberian Judiciary).
Since the current Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh took over in October 2022, this one opening address has been read over and over from a particular template.
Associate Justice Wolokolie and her boss Chief Justice Yuoh continue to sing the same song of rebranding the Judiciary even the rebranding is yet to be visible.
Digitization of the Judiciary was key during the confirmation hearings of the current Chief Justice, but the Judiciary lacks constant electricity, emailing court records is dead on arrival, court records storage is lacking and buses to transport judicial workers are down due to the lack of fuel.
The Supreme Court ceremony was attended by senior government officials namely speaker of the House of Representatives J. Fonati Kofa, Senate Pro temporary Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence and members of the diplomatic community.