PHOTO: Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie
“The question still lingers on as to whether those of us who are privileged to serve in the Justice System, particularly the Judiciary have learned from our past history or mistakes that led to the fourteen (14) year civil conflict”!
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JSUTICE, Monrovia – At a well-attended opening of the May term A.D. 2025 term of Criminal Courts “A,B,C” and “D”, Criminal Court “A”, Roosevelt Z. Willie questioned Judicial actors as to whether they have learned from their past history or mistakes, in a charge delivered.
“The question still lingers on as to whether those of us who are privileged to serve in the Justice System, particularly the Judiciary have learned from our past history or mistakes that led to the fourteen (14) year civil conflict”!
He delivered his charge on the Theme: Has the Liberian Justice System Learned From Its Past History Prior to the Civil War?
This question might have necessitated public criticism on the Justice system in rendering judgments in cases.
As you may be aware, one of the factors that led to the 14 years Civil Law in Liberia that led to the killing of 250,000 and millions of properties destroyed was due to injustice.
Judge Willie added that thIn order for Liberia not to return to such devastating past, which referred to it, then, as a ‘failed State’, where more than 250,000 people perished and millions of properties destroyed, the Report made several recommendations, among which are: increment in judiciary budget so as to set its own salary in order to attract competent lawyers to serve as Judges, Magistrates and Staff; construction of Judicial Complexes, enactment of law for judicial financial autonomy, establishment of programs and laws to reduce the over crowdedness of pre-trial detainees; among others.
According to him, In 2012, he was fortunate to be invited as a Panelist at the 44th Annual Conference of the Liberia Studies Association (LSA), hosted in collaboration with the Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and the theme of that conference was “BUILDING A CAPABLE STATE, LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD IN LIBERIA’S DEVELOPMENT”.
Although he did not physically attend, but I delivered a paper on the sub-theme: “LOOKING BACK AT THE LIBERIAN JUSTICE SYSTEM, MOVING FORWARD IN LIBERIA’S DEVELOPMENT”.
Criminal Court A judge said, one of the most profound arguments he raised in that presentation, predicated upon the general theme was, any country that does not learn from its past is doomed to fail and cannot develop.
“Today, as we deliver this Charge, we must admit in all fairness that since we crafted the first Judiciary Strategic Plan in Accra, Ghana, 2011, the Government through the Honorable Supreme court has made tremendous strides in implementing majority of the recommendations put forth by the ICG Report.”
Some of the programs include: the enactment of the Judiciary Financial Autonomy Act and this Act provides for the Judiciary to prepare its own budget, which budget when prepare cannot be altered by the Executive but forwarded to the National Legislature that has the authority either to decrease or increase it, based on the availability of funds.
Additionally, when the budget is approved into law, the Judiciary shall receive its quarterly allotments as per the law and based on the Act, the Judiciary has been able construct judicial complexes, increased judges, magistrates and support staff wages and allowances. Establishment of the Judicial Institute (JI), in 2008, to train College graduates in order to replace them with semi-literate Magistrates, who will be retired; as well as to train other Judicial actors and stakeholders. The creation of the Magistrate Sitting Program in 2008, which purpose is to reduce Pre-trial detainees, the formation of the Public Defense Program, which aims at providing legal representation for indigent criminal defendants, among others.
Therefore, by implication, we have been empowered to some extent to perform our judicial functions.
However, the question still lingers on as to whether those of us who are privileged to serve in the Justice System, particularly the Judiciary have learned from our past history or mistakes that led to the fourteen (14) year civil conflict!
This question is not for me alone to answer but for all, including the general public. While it is the right for one to provide whatever answer he/she wishes, one thing is certain in the dispensation of justice for us not to return to a ‘failed state’, and that is, we should dispense justice based on the rule of law; irrespective of political, economic or social status.
For her part, the Ministry of Justice represented by its Deputy Minister Administration Massa Jalibah responding to the Judge’s charge called judicial officials for the continued improvement in the justice system.
Minister Jalibah urged both prosecutors and public defenders to continue with the pre-bargaining process to reduce the overcrowding of prison in line with law.
She praised the Justice Ministry for making a sufficient improvement in the reduction of pre-trial detainees and the Ministry’s commitment to collaborate with the court during this term.
Also responding to the Judge’s charge was the coordinator of the Public Defense Cllr. Joseph B. Debblay said, he will ensure the filing of motions to release more pre-trial detainees where necessary by using the law.
Meanwhile, magistrate James Ngafuan, coordinator of the National Trial Judges Association called on Judiciary authorities to allow them continue their education. It called be recalled that Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh passed an order for magistrates to choose either paying attention to their work or continuing their schooling and forgot the work before two things cannot occupy one space at the same time.