PHOTO: L-R, Chief Justice Korkpor and Speaker Chambers
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- As Liberian Trial Judges step up their rejection of slicing of their salaries and that of the Judiciary by the CDC government, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Dr. Bhofal Chambers has paid a rare visit to the seat of the Judicial branch of government.
Recent statements and media reports on the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL) are said to have mounted pressure on both the Legislature and Executive branches of government.
On July 6, 2021, Trial Judges in Liberia confirmed that they are poised to take legal action against the Liberian government of President George Manneh Weah for Wrongful salaries deduction, but it is not now. Members of the Supreme Court Bench have also been affected by the pay cut under the salary harmonization scheme and the Chief Justice had previously not been silent over their dissatisfaction.
The confirmation by the Trial Judges came in a press statement by the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL this week under the signature of its President, Judge Eva Mappy Morgan and Secretary General Attorney L. Ben Barco, in the wake of media reports of a decision by Judges.
The salary harmonization exercise has affected the three branches of government—Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. But some members of the Judiciary say that officials of the Executive and Legislative branches still get huge salaries and benefits than Judges, who are restricted from engaging in business activities and have to only rely on their monthly income.
But the main reason for the Speaker’s rare visit at the Temple of Justice late this week is not known.
According to reports, Speaker Chambers went to Liberian Judiciary to express concern over the NATJL’s planed action.
But the Speaker told reporters that he didn’t go there for said purpose, rather he is implementing the coordination between the branches of government.
According to speaker Chambers, if there is any planned action by the NATJL, it is the right of everybody under the law to legally do what is authorized.
As a government, there is a need to work together as one and he is implementing oneness.
At the same time, in the wake of the recent press release issued by the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia concerning their planned legal action against the CDC government of President Weah, Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor has reportedly invited the leadership of the NATJL for meeting.