“Judges should not be involved in politics”- says Chief Justice Korkpor
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
Thursday’s ceremony marking the seating of 4 Circuit Court Judges and commissioning of a Debt Court Judge at the Temple of Justice heard speakers, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, place emphasis on the need for the independence and integrity of the Liberian Judiciary to be upheld.
“Judges should not get involved in politics,” Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said, adding that the Judiciary will not be impartial and independent if Judges do not demonstrate the qualities of honesty and integrity.
This was the charge he gave to Resident Circuit Judges Joe S. Barkon of Grand Bassa County; Ousman F. Feika of Grand Cape Mount County; Roland F. Dahn of Nimba County, Onesimus Barwon of Rivercess Countyand; and the Debt Court Judge of Bong County, Patrick W. Williams on December 6, 2018 in the Ground Floor Hall at the seat of the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill, Monrovia.
Supreme Court Justices and newly seated Circuit Court Judges at the ceremony on Thursday
Justice Korkpor said honesty and integrity do not entertain conflict of interest, family or other personal interest in their judgement/ruling in cases, but rather truth and justice.
He reminded the new Judges that the people would not see justice and have faith in the court system, if Judges are not honest and lack integrity.
“Please go and be servants of the people…the people are looking up to you. Don’t be lord over them,” the Liberian Chief Justice told the incoming Circuit Judges in an audience comprising members of the trial Judges association of Liberia, practicing lawyers, relatives and friends of the court officials.
Article 65 of the Liberian Constitution says: “The Judicial Power of the Republic shall be vested in a Supreme Court and such subordinate courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The courts shall apply both statutory and customary laws in accordance with the standards enacted by the Legislature. Judgements of the Supreme Court shall be final and binding and shall not be subject to appeal or review by any other branch of Government. Nothing in this Article shall prohibit administrative consideration of the Justiciable matter prior to review by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
This judicial independence and integrity theme enveloped the remarks of both the outgoing President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Moses Payegar and the Trial Judges Association of Liberia President, Judge Roosevelt Willie.
LNBA President, Payegar stressed the need for the judiciary to perform their duties “impartially and without fear or favour”.
Judges role, Cllr. Payegar said, is to confirm and uphold the rule of law “The Court is the last hope in the world,” he said.
Among other things, Liberia descended into anarchy back in the 1990s due to injustice and corruption in the Judiciary, something the Trial Judges Association’s President Roosevelt Willie reminded his colleagues and the audience about.
Quoting a research report released some time ago, Judge Willie said corruption in the Judiciary ware identified as one of the root causes of the Liberian civil conflict.
According to him, if lasting peace is to be enjoyed in this country, justice must be dispensed without fear or favour, in order to avoid a breakdown of peace.
Judge Willies asserted that the Judiciary “is a place for service and not to get rich.”
He pointed out that Trial Judges Association, which was established to seek the welfare of Judges and ensure that their constitutional role is performed, was monitoring the performance of Judges across Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Grand Bassa County’s Resident Circuit Court Judge, Joe Barkon said justice is key to peace and conducive investment climate in Liberia, as he thanked President Weah and the Supreme Court Bench for their preferment.
While promising to ensure that the challenge faced by the court is eased, Judge Barkon vowed to do his “best to transform the justice system in Grand Bassa County.”
Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, who was allotted a place on the program to make remarks, did not show up at this occasion at the Temple of Justice neither did he send a proxy.
The Circuit Court Judge of Rivercess County, Onesimus Barwon closed the ceremony in his vote of thanks by declaring that although they’re not perfect as human being, they “will perform without fear or favour”.
Last weekend, the newly elected president of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe said “nobody will like to invest in a country when the judiciary is controlled by the Executive branch of government.”
In an interview with a local newspaper, Daily Observer, shortly after his election in Liberia’s port city of Buchanan last weekend, Cllr. Gongloe reflected on the saga in which the House of Representatives want to remove Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh which was acrimonious for weeks, something he believes some elements demonstrated the disrespect for the rule of law.
The incoming Bar Association’s President considers the House’s move as an act of disrespect for the rule of law by the Legislature not adhering to the law by making an appearance in the Supreme Court.