PHOTO: (L-R) Chief Justice Yuoh and Trial Judges Association’s President Sammy
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The mood in the Criminal Court ‘A’ turned dramatic during the opening of the February Term of Court earlier this week with a verbal standoff between one of the Circuit Court Judges, Nancy Sammy and Chief Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh.
It all started after Judges expressed their dissatisfaction about the manner in which they have been harshly punished by the Judiciary Inquiry Commission, instead of the Judiciary organizing an award committee to award Judges who have performed well for their dedicated services at the end of the year.
The mood in the court temporarily changed, as such a verbal exchange is not commonly seen between the high court justices and lower court Judges during court opening.
Judge Sammy, who is the President of the National Trial Judges Association of Liberia (NTJAL), said Judges in Liberia need to be motivated, rather than always being punished for what they term “minor issues”.
In what Judge Sammy as Chief Justice Yuoh’s improper response, the head of Liberia’s Supreme Court said: “Are you people aware that we should be hosting the Judiciary conference every year? Your please bring something on the table for discussion and stop voicing out your anger whenever your see me in court opening.”
Chief Justice Yuoh lamented that the public filed a complaint to her and she forwarded the complaints to the JIC where membership of the JIC appointed her as chairperson.
Judge Sammy took exception to the Justice Youh’s statement and said the Charge of the Judges that there is the need for them to be rewarded for their good work at the Judiciary instead of dwelling on the negatives was in place.
She clarified that the Judges did not say that they should not be punished when they go wrong.