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“Time For Warning Is Over”- Liberia’s Chief Justice Yuoh Tells Judicial Actors

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As Cllr. Negbalee Warner Says Judges Are Not Politicians

 PHOTO: Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh

 By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com

 Liberia’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh has told judicial actors on that the time for warning is over, and it’s now time to act’ in line with professional ethics and the Judicial canons.

Speaking in Monrovia today, Thursday, February 1,2024, Chief Justice Yuoh said: “To this end, and in consultation with my esteemed colleagues, I am pleased to announce that the supreme court has constituted a review committee on the revised rule of courts, the code of moral and professional ethics of lawyers and judicial canons as well as our procedural codes, with the end purpose of identifying challenges and shortcomings if any.”

She cautioned judicial actors to wear the garments of been non- non-corruptible in dispensing justice without fear or favor.

The warning from the head of the Liberian Judiciary comes against the backdrop of criticisms from within and the larger society about many acts of corruption and breach of professional standards and ethics by some legal practitioners in the country.

Chief justice Yuoh’s latest statement is in response to the new President Joseph Boakai’s State of the Nations Address, when he mentioned “our justice system which is meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty has been marred by inefficiency, corruption, and lack of public trust”.

But speaking Thursday during the 10th Convention of the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL), Chief Justice Yuoh, such statements of the president serve as a challenge to them as judicial actors.

She wants lawyers to demonstrate efficiency, stating that the supreme court of Liberia will not hesitate to institute measures to curb and eradicate all forms of dilatory tactics of lawyers in all instances.

Expects full adherence to principles of the law from Courts

Chief Justice Yuoh, maintained that the court expects full adherence to the principles of the law which states “every court entering a decree maintains jurisdiction until its judgment is fully satisfied:

The head of the highest court in the land however, resonated her unwavering stance on the administration of justice in the interest of peace, harmony, stability, economic and viability of the country.

At the same time, Chief Justice Yuoh has called on all courts of records in Liberia deciding ejectment cases to assert their very best in utilizing the technical expertise of Liberia Land Authority or other licensed land surveyors and in consonance with applicable laws.

She further said that the Supreme Court have observed that it has defiantly become the new normal for a segment of the public enticed by misguided courage, obstructing the enforcement of court judgment either the judgment is adverse to their interests or base on their claim that they were not party to the cause out of which the judgment grew.

The 10th national trial judges conference is being celebrated under the theme the judiciary and democracy: safeguarding , democratic values in the legal system , especially during and after elections, and the conference runs for three day from the 1st of February to the 3st respectively.

Judges are not politicians-says Cllr. Negbalee Warner

Also speaking during the program as guest speaker the Senior Partner of the Heritage Partner and Associate, Cllr Negbalee Warner said that judges are not politicians that should slave or in changing political dynamatic, partisan interest or doing their job with fear.

She however, said that the role of judges during and after elections is maintaining a high level of moral conduct and integrity of themselves and demanding the same from administrative staff. The Heritage Partners and Associate Senior Partner also said that the role of judges is to safeguard democracy and the implementation of the rule of law.

Liberian judges comprising the National Association of Trial Judges need not to do anything else other than what they are odd to do in safeguarding the democracy.

According to him, to safeguard confidence in the judiciary Liberian judges need to be efficient in the deposition of cases through personal attention, diligence efforts and time of the judge, clerk, and other ministerial staff’s party litigant and their counselors.

He added that lawyers and party litigants themselves are contributing factors to the delay of cases on the docket of the court, noting that the issues of tip are not acceptable under the law.

“We desire an efficient and effective judiciary, not only clean in need but in conduct, we must do away with the saying the court is the time or the judge time is the time of the court as these processes need to be improved as we seek improvement,” he said.

Cllr. Warner said that for the public to have confidence in the judiciary the courts need to bear and be respectful of the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Cllr Warner has asserted that judges bear the greatest responsibility for any miscarriage of justice or conduct and they have the authority and means to prevent or mitigate wrong or dishonorable conduct.

 

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