By Peter Toby, tobypeter71@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, MONROVIA- Chief Justice Francis Korkpkor has admitted that the Supreme Court of Liberia is going through tough times, especially in wake of Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh’s impeachment trial.
Members of the House of Representative have indicted the Associate Justice for several felonious crimes ranging from theft of property, forgery, fraud, corruption and misuse of power with Bill of Impeachment at the House of Senate.
He has since pleaded Not Guilty, thereby shifting the burden on the lawmakers to prove their claims consistent with Chapter 25, Section 25.5 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.
But at the start of the impeachment trial, Associate Justice petitioned Chief Justice Francis Korkpor to recuse himself from presiding over the hearing “in the interest of justice and fair play”.
Among other things, Justice Ja’neh said in his petition:
“That because there was still pending before the Supreme Court of Liberia undetermined the Petition for the Writ of Prohibition against the House of Representatives and a stay order from the Supreme Court of Liberia ordering the stay of all other proceedings in the impeachment proceedings of Movant, coupled with the fact that the Writ of Summons was not ordered and venued before Respondent as provided for by Article 43 of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, Movant filed with the Clerk of the Liberian Senate a Special Appearance, challenging the jurisdiction of the Senate over his person. Your Honor is requested to take judicial notice of the records of this case file in substantiation of the averment contained herein.”
But addressing the opening of the March Team of the Supreme Court on Monday, March 11, 2019, Chief Justice Francis Korpkor said it is difficult to ignore Justice Ja’neh’s impeachment trial at the Senate, saying it is unprecedented in the history of our Country.
Justice Korpkor’s appears trouble by his colleague’s removal trial at the Liberian Senate, but insisted that his role as presiding officer is consistent with Article 43 of Constructional of Liberia.
As the Justice Ja’neh’s impeachment trial progress, the Chief Justice said he is aware of the many negative criticisms about his role in the process, saying that said censure against him are coming from people who ought to know better.
Justice Korkpor said although the Priest of the High Court refused to respond, at the end of the proceeding, the truth will revealed.