As The 13th Judicial Circuit Opens May Term Today, Monday
PHOTO: Judge Victoria Duncan giving her charge during the opening of court
By Abraham K. Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia– Her Honor Victoria Duncan, Resident Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County today, May 11, 2026 officially opened the May Term of Court with a firm charge to jurors.
Jurors, she urged, should be “a living commitment” to justice that demands integrity, courage, and truth.
Addressing a packed courtroom of judicial actors, lawyers, litigants, and prospective jurors, Judge Duncan emphasized that the administration of justice rests not solely with judges, but with citizens selected to serve as jurors.
“Justice is not a static concept; it is a living commitment,” Judge Duncan declared. “It requires impartiality, patience, and courage. It demands that we listen carefully, deliberate thoughtfully, and act with integrity. In this court, every voice will be heard, and every right safeguarded. We must remember that justice is not measured by speed or convenience, but by fairness and truth.”
Turning directly to jurors, the Resident Judge stressed that they are active participants, not passive observers, in the justice system. She outlined key responsibilities that come with jury service:
“Jurors, you sit at the heart of our justice system. You embody the principle that justice is not the province of judges alone, but of the people themselves,” she said. “By serving, you bring the conscience, common sense, and values of the community into the courtroom.”
Jurors must listen to the evidence
Speaking further, Judge Duncan detailed several vital duties jurors must uphold including
“Listening to the evidence. The jurors must pay close attention to the testimony, exhibits, and arguments presented during trial.”
“Weighing the facts. Guided by the court’s instruction, jurors apply the law faithfully to the facts they find.”
Deliberating together Judge Duncan in continuation questioned that they must engage in thoughtful discussion, respecting differing viewpoints, and striving toward a fair and unanimous verdict.”
She stressed that Safeguarding rights, Jurors must protect the right of the accused, ensuring that justice is not arbitrary but grounded in fairness.”
Quoting renowned English jurist Sir William Blackstone, Judge Duncan reminded the court that the jury service places “extraordinary responsibility” in the hands of ordinary citizens.
“This duty is not easy,” she noted. “It requires impartiality, patience, and courage. Jurors must set aside personal bias, resist outside influence, and commit themselves wholly to the truth. Yet it is one of the highest forms of civic responsibility, decided by ordinary citizens who carry extraordinary responsibility. As Sir William Blackstone wrote, it is lived and decided under the law, because it places the power of the state in the hands of their peers rather than the power of the state alone”.
“To those who serve, we owe our deepest respect and gratitude,” Judge Duncan concluded.
The May Term of Court is expected to hear a range of criminal and civil cases. The opening ceremony was attended by county officials, members of the Margibi Bar Association, civil society actors, and community leaders.