PHOTO: Judge George W. Smith
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmaial.com
The 15th Judicial Circuit Court in River Gee opened Its February Term of Court, with a call for salary increment for Liberian Judges and Magistrates.
Delivering the Judge’s Charge, Judge George W. Smith disclosed that the salaries now being paid to judges and magistrates are unjust, inequitable and unfavorable for them and their families, considering that they, unlike other officials of government, are by law prohibited from doing commercial business.
And he said they are by law also prohibited from engaging in the practice of law, other than judicial practice or service.
Judge Smith further lamented that after being agreed by the three branches of government and partners including LNBA, UNDP, UNMIL that “corruption within the judicial system can be attributed to long years of very low remuneration and generally poor working conditions of judicial officers and staff”, the GOL raised the compensation of judges, provided for financial autonomy of the Judiciary via Statue among others, in consistent with Domestic and International Laws; but unfortunately the so-called increment in salary was significantly reduced in October 2019 by the Government of Liberia, an act he consider as violation of the Constitution and international law.”
“Thankfully, in his State of the Nation Addresses His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai highlighted adherence to the rule of law. The rule of law includes those domestic and international laws guaranteeing judicial independence–protection of judicial compensation from being diminished.
“He stated. Meanwhile, the Judge at the same time urged Judges and Magistrates to uphold the profession with impartiality.
“While we perform our part of the contract by speedily and impartially administering justice, we shall not relent in ensuring that the GOL will also perform her part of the contract by upholding those domestic and international laws guaranteeing judicial independence, judicial impartiality in the administration of justice, the rule of law, as well as settling GOL’s debts owed to judges and magistrates from October 2019.”
Speaking on the over crowdedness of prison centers, Judge Smith cautioned the government to extend capacity for inmates as the growth of population with obviously lead to increase in crime rate.