BRIEF REMARKS DELIVERED BY THE NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LIBERIAN NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION AT THE PROGRAM MARKING THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF THE RESIDENT CIRCUIT JUDGE AND JUDGE OF THE SEXUAL OFFENSES DIVISION OF THE 8TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT, NIMBA COUNTY, HELD AT THE GROUND FLOOR OF TEMPLE OF JUSTICE BUILDING ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2023.
Her Honor Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, Chief Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba, Judges of Circuit and Specialized Courts, Members of the Executive and Legislature present, The Court Administrator, Fellow Colleagues of the Bar, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen.
I bring you greetings from the National President and National Executive Council of the Liberian National Bar Association. The President is on an official trip to the Republic of South Africa, where he is attending the African Bar Conference along with the Secretary General.
The LNBA thanks the President of the Republic of Liberia and the Liberian Senate for their diligence in the nomination, confirmation and subsequent appointment of our colleagues to the Judiciary.
Madam Chief Justice and Associate Justice, the LNBA is delighted to have been involved in the nomination process of the two judges for the 8th Judicial Circuit. This is the first time in recent years that the Bar has participated in the vetting of judges for our courts. As the umbrella organization for all lawyers in Liberia including Judges and Justices, we believe that the Bar plays a very crucial role in the nomination of its members to an exalted position in the Judiciary.
However, the Bar reiterates its call for the establishment of a Judicial Commission where lawyers would be properly vetted as to their competence, character and overall ability to manage our courts and dispense justice without fear or favor without the need for political maneuvering or political lobbying.
The Judiciary is at a crossroad. The Bar is concerned about Cases of rape and other sexual offenses that clog the docket of the Sexual offenses court in Nimba County. We trust that Judge Sidibey will devise innovative means couched in the law to dispose of these cases and ensure that justice is served.
The LNBA is also aware of several land disputes and labor matters that plague the Circuit Court in Nimba County and call on Judge Suah to meticulously handle the disposition of said cased so as to bring relief to the party litigants seeking justice.
The LNBA believes that our Judges need to conscientious and impartial in the administration of justice. We are aware that being a judge is a herculean task, but with the confidence reposed in you as judges, we believe that you’ll show yourselves approved.
As we are in the campaign season for elections, the LNBA cautions all Liberians to exercise their rights to campaign for a particular political party or candidate with caution and care so as not to disrupt the peace we all enjoy.
The LNBA condemns in its strongest term the recent incident of partisans of the coalition for democratic change toting a casket portraying the death of a political party’s candidate. We believe that this action by members of the ruling coalition for democratic change is counterproductive to the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections. The LNBA calls on the National Elections Commission to apply the appropriate sanctions on the individuals and political party in an effort to deter such unwholesome act.
The LNBA believes in clean campaign messages that reflect the overall plan for national growth and development.
Judicial Canon 16 requires our Judges to not be swayed away by partisan demands, public clamor, or consideration of personal popularity or notoriety, nor be apprehensive of unjust criticisms.
Just to reiterate the statement made by the Honorable Chief Justice, let me remind us of Judicial Canon 38, which provides that “In every particular case a judge’s conduct should always be above reproach. He should be conscientious, studious, thorough, courteous, patient, punctual, just, impartial, fearless of public clamor regardless of public praise, and indifferent to private, political or partisan influence; he should administer justice according to law, and deal with his appointment as a public trust; he should not allow another affairs or his private interest to interfere with the prompt and proper performance of his judicial duties nor should he administer the office for the purpose of advancing his personal ambitions or increasing his popularity.
As we have entered the heat of the political season, let me also caution our Judges and remind them of the requirement of Judicial Canon 37, which provides and I quote “While a judge is entitled to entertain his personal view of political questions, and while not required to surrender his rights or opinion as a citizen it is inevitable that suspicion of being warped by political bias will attach to a judge who becomes an active member of a political party and a promoter of its interest as against, another especially those of our judges of the highest courts who by constitutional command are empowered to review and determine electoral issues under the multiparty system introduced by the 1986 Constitution. Candidates for political office should neither accept nor retain a place on any party committee nor act as a party leader or generally engage in party activities. A judge should not appear at political meetings and indicate support of candidates for political office (nor should he permit his wife or her husband to give political teas.)”
As Judges you should be aware that the Court is the last place of hope for man on earth and therefore as a Judge you must live above reproach.
To our judges, we trust that you’ll uphold the confidence reposed in you by the President and members of the Bar to serve with integrity as you contribute to the development of our legal jurisprudence.
Thank You!
