By Emmanuel Mafelah,mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
Gbarnga, Liberia-The assigned Judge at the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in the central city of Gbarnga, Bong County, Scheaplor R. Dunbar has advised lawyers, Magistrates and all justice actors to dispense justice fairly as a way of promoting peace in Liberia.
Judge Dunbar, who served as Judge at the Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice prior to being assigned in Bong County, made the call recently in Gbarnga at the opening of the August A.D. 2019 Term of court.
The Liberian Judge said justice goes to recognizing the rights of party litigants without favor or without regret there is a need for lawyers other justice actors dispense justice in accordance with law.
“Lawyers, Magistrates including all justice actors even I should not give a right to a party litigant if that party litigant does not deserve it under the law; then in that case they will be promoting peace in their various counties and jurisdictions,” Judge Dunbar said.
The Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge added: “Your ability to stem the evil of the society is involved. Your ability to speak truth to the power that be if the power that be is not following the law, is involved. Read the law and apply it”.
Meanwhile, Judge Dunbar has told the prospective jurors that the only way Liberia will advance is when they take up the challenge and courage to make fair and impartial decisions, if they were selected to serve.
Article 20 (A) of the Liberian Constitution states in part “…and in all cases not arising in courts not of record, under courts martial and upon impeachment, the parties shall have the right to trial by jury.”
Prospective jurors are no longer requested from the municipalities like before, but randomly selected from the databases of government ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, corporate institutions and the roster of eligible voters.
And their responsibility is to assist the Judiciary make decisions on matters brought before the courts
“You come here, those of you who will be selected. You will sit on maybe a criminal case or on a civil case. Your action or inaction will have far reaching effect. If you look at the facts like this, and say because somebody has influenced you, so you will not say the truth, then you have done wrong,” Judge Dunbar stressed.
He told the prospective jurors to be impartial, independent and unassisted by persons not part of their panel as they help the courts decide the fate of party litigants.
According to Judge Dunbar, “Through participating in the jury system, you are playing a direct role in the implementation of justice in Liberia,”
He urged members of the judiciary to strike a balance in the performance of his duties for the promotion of peace and justice in the county.
He further cautioned them to be people of courage, character and independence in their actions as a way of avoiding the temptation of being tempered with by lawyers and party litigants.
Judge Dunbar has also called on the people of Bong County to respect authorities of the Court.