As Judicial Reporters Call For Drugs And Alcohol Test For Bailiffs
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The grounds of the Temple of Justice turned to a scene of tension and fear on Thursday, April 6, 2023, when a Bailiff or court officer at the seat of the Liberian Judiciary assaulted a Court Reporter tearing the Journalist’s clothes, whilst threatening to take his life.
In his rage, the Bailiff vowed not to ever allow Ok FM Judicial Reporter Richard Watson on the grounds of the court or anywhere around the proximity of the court, or else he will have him killed.
Bailiff, Nathaniel Green, Aias “Big-boy” who was the driver of the former chief justice, assaulted Reporter Watson for not immediately reporting an accident that occurred at the court
Thursday’s violent incident came just days after Bailiffs were in scuffle on the grounds of the Temple of Justice with a mentally ill man who assaulted bailiffs while they tried to get him out of the corridor of the court, something Bailiff Green though should have been reported immediately to the public the same day, rather than being reported the next day.
The incident on Thursday started when Bailiff Green came insulting the OK FM Reporter and interrogating others on their reportorial function.
He asserted that he was once attacked by the same mentally ill man and Journalists covering the court did not do an immediate report of the matter.
As Journalists watched in silence, Bbailiff Nathaniel Green, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, went on by assaulting Richard Watson of Okay FM.
Out of fear of being hurt and in self-defense, Journalist Watson retaliated with a slap and walked away in the office of the Judicial reporter, something that prompted other bailiffs to burst the door of the Reporters’ office and started to beat on journalist Watson, forcefully taking him away for investigation.
Meanwhile, the office of Public Affairs at the Judiciary and the administration of the judicial security have taken charge of the matter and launched an investigation.
The leadership of the Association of Judicial Reporter through its assistant secretary Taisiah K. Marfee has condemned the brutality meted against journalists at the court and called on the two investigating parties to be impartial in the investigation.
The Judicial Reporters Association leadership is at the same time calling on the judiciary through Chief Justice Yuoh to ensure that Journalists covering the courts are protected under the law, irrespective of the nature of the story being reported professionally.
It can be recalled, the Chief Justice had on many occasions pledged to make the Judiciary a vibrant one that citizenry can count on.
Since making said commitment, she has been putting in place measure to rebrand the image of the Judiciary by shifting Judges and establishing training for staffers of the judiciary, mainly Bailiff.
However, in spite of the training which is meant for the rebranding of the judiciary, Bailiffs are still seen in the corridor of courts assaulting journalists.
Judicial Reporter are also calling on the Chief Justice to conduct drug and alcohol test for all Bailiff as part of the rebranding of the Judiciary.