Says Justice Is The Living Heartbeat Of Democracy
PHOTO: Chief Justice, Yame Quiqui Gbeisay
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
GANTA, Liberia- Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay has strongly warned lawyers at the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) annual convention that Justice is not an abstract ideal engraved in marble.
But he said Justice is rather, the living heartbeat of democracy, pulsating through the advocacy of every lawyer in this room.
The LNBA convention, which ran from December 4-6, 2025, was held under theme: “The Lawyer’s Role in Restoring Public Trust.” in this commercial city in Liberia’s norteastern Nimba County.
Chief Justice Gbeisay told lawyers that Lawyers, the guardians of equity, are uniquely positioned to restore that trust through the quiet heroism of equity, are uniquely positioned to restore that trust through the quite heroism of daily practice and the mentorship that ignites the flame for the next generation.
According to him, public trust in our institutions has been tested, eroded by shadows of doubt, delays in justice, whispers of impropriety, and the lingering scars of a past where the scales of justice tripped unevenly, yet herein lies our greatest opportunity.
“As we convene under the theme “Strengthening the Rule of Law: The Lawyer’s Role in Restoring Public Trust, I am filled with optimism for the transformative journey ahead.”
In a nation that has weathered storms of conflict, transition, and trial, this gathering is not merely an assembly of professionals; it is a clarion call to action and to reclaim the soul of justice, to mend the frayed threads of faith that bind our people to the law Justice Gbeisay told his colleagues.
He stated, as you are aware, in recent months, our judiciary has launched a resolute war on corruption, fortifying mechanisms for accountability such as dedicated WhatsApp numbers for anonymous reporting of wrongdoing by judicial staff, the establishment of monitoring and evaluation platforms, and the conduct of personnel and financial audits. These tools, alongside performance-based monitoring divisions, are designed to purge corruption at its roots and rebuild a judiciary where transparency and accountability are not aspirational but operational reality.
Chief Justice Gbeisay said, true strength emerges when we, as lawyers, collectively lead by example by upholding ethical standards that silence critics and inspire confidence. He urged lawyers to be instrumental in this restoration by committing to making our system fair and free from the taint of bias, undue influence, or shady dealings.
The head of the Judiciary Branch of government added that, they gathered at a time when the global community is observing the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence under the theme: “United to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”. This theme resonates deeply with our profession, for it reminds us that violence is no longer confined to physical intern rather, it has expanded into the digital realm, where technology is increasingly weaponized to silence voices, intimidate women, and undermine institutions.
Liberia’s Chief Jusice said that the Judiciary itself has not been spared from this relentless cyber onslaught. Online violence, misinformation, and orchestrated attacks against judges strike at the very heart of judicial independence and steadily erode public trust in justice.
“Technology, though a powerful engine of progress, is being misused/misdirected to weaken the pillars of constitutional governance and to sow doubt where confidence must prevail.”
Justice Gbeisay stated that, even as we begin our quest for reforms, cases wholly unrelated to the office of the Chief Justice are being deliberately reported to impugn his integrity. Even matters that remain sub judice are not spared.
The Chief Justice indicated that Lawyers, entrusted as officers of the court, too often breach the mandates of our code of Moral and Ethical conduct, leaking court records, granting interviews, and fueling negative narratives that compromise due process and diminish the dignity of our profession.
“When a lawyer wins a case in this jurisdiction, he/she goes the extra mile to ensure that the judgment is enforced; when the same counsel loses a case, he/she runs to the Chief Justice’s office, the legislature, and the Executive branch for redress. If all fails, he/she goes to the Supreme Court or “social media” to denigrate the court or the Chief Justice. Such conduct will not be tolerated. Swift and concrete actions will be taken against lawyers who permit their clients to malign the court, or who themselves speak publicly on matters that are sub-judice.
The Supreme Court of Liberia has spoken clearly on this matter in Toe v. FrontPage Africa. In that landmark case, the court affirmed that while freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy, it cannot serve as a license for defamation or calculated assaults on judicial integrity. liberty must coexist with accountability; that ruling stands as a beacon, reminding us that the judiciary will remain steadfast in defending its independence against intimidation, whether in print or online. On the other hand, whenever the court enters a judgment not favorable to brothers or sisters in the other branch of government, we will impeach him/her.
Justice Gbeisay warned that, under his watch, there is not a cricket. No one will knock his foot down for the Supreme Court to keep quiet from rendering justice and delivering access to justice for the Liberian people.