“Don’t talk to party litigants privately,” Chief Justice cautions judges
The Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia, His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. has frowned on judges entertaining party litigants in their chambers or at their homes, especially when such litigants are parties to cases before them.
Chief Justice Korkpor said judges should speak to party litigants in cases before them through their lawyers rather than holding conferences with plaintiffs or defendants directly either in their chambers, their homes or anywhere else.
According to Chief Justice Korkpor, judges have access to lawyers who represent the legal interests of the parties and advocate on their behalf, and as such, there should be no reason why a judge should meet with a lawyers’ client exclusively.
“If ‘Party A’ sees ‘Party B’ talking to a judge or is seen with the judge in private, whether in his/her chambers or anywhere else, that act creates conflict of interest. So, don’t do it!”
“Justice should not only be done” the Chief Justice stressed, “but it should be seen. That’s what our law says,” he maintained.
The chief administrator of justice in Liberia made the statement during the official ceremonies marking the opening of the 2018 August Term of Court, which took place at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia on Monday, August 13, 2018.
Speaking further, Chief Justice Korkpor mentioned the failure of courts to enforce judgments as another problem that could affect the smooth administration of justice and called on judges to ensure the enforcement of judgments rendered by their courts.
“Judges’ failure to effect judgments of their courts could result to aggrieved parties running away from the court system and taking the law into their own hands. If you don’t enforce judgments, it renders the Judiciary a toothless bulldog.”
Citing an example, the Chief Justice said, ‘if a person wins an ejectment case and the court fails to put that person in possession of the property, that failure creates lack of trust in the judicial system and makes the people to have no confidence in the courts.’
In another development, the Chief Justice announced that plans were underway for the creation of Sexual Offenses Courts (Criminal Court “E”) in Bong and Nimba Counties.
He noted that conditions were ripe for the establishment of Court “E” in the two counties because rape and rape related cases were rife, and the circuits have adequate space available to house the courts.
The Chief Justice however stressed that the Judiciary Branch was financially constrained to execute this plan and will be working with both the Legislative and Executive Branches of government to fulfill this plan.
