Judge vows to push for creation of magistrate courts

The Resident Circuit Judge of the 14^th Judicial Circuit Court in River Cess County has vowed to ensure access to justice throughout the county by initiating the process leading to the establishment of magisterial courts across the county.

Judge D. Onesimus Banwon said he will endeavor to collaborate with other actors of Liberia’s governance system to establish the relevant institutions of justice in the county, including the construction of a Judicial Complex in Cestos City.

“The Chief Justice, His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. has unequivocally assured us that with the cooperation of the Legislative Caucus of River Cess County in terms of financial contribution, the Judiciary is willing and prepared to construct a Judicial Complex during the 2018/2019 budget year,” Judge Banwon added.

According to Judge Banwon, the creation of magistrate courts in the other administrative districts of the county will make justice accessible and satisfy the people’s quest for justice.

These commitments were contained in the judge’s first charge delivered at the opening of the February Term A. D. 2019 of the 14^th Judicial Circuit Court. The event, which was attended by scores of citizens of River Cess County, took place in the refurbished circuit courtroom noticeable to all who may have visited the structure known to have been once completely dilapidated.

Judge Banwon, who delivered his Charge after being officially seated as Resident Judge by Associate Justice Joseph N. Nagbe, was quick to mention that while they were determined to improve the justice system of the county, River Cess was faced with the monumental challenge of the acute shortage of trained manpower to man the institutions of justice upon their establishment.

“Success in the creation of Magisterial Districts in the administrative districts of the county, as envisioned, depends to a very large extent on the availability of trained magistrates as well as clerical staff to man those courts,” he maintained.

Judge Banwon used the occasion to encourage the citizens of River Cess County who are university graduates to get enrolled either at the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute or the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law to acquire legal knowledge and serve their county.

“It is our firm conviction,” he told the gathering, “that unless we begin to harness our human resources as a county, in taking up those challenges that continue to plague us as a people, our quest for growth and development in every aspect of our existence will perpetually remain unrealized.”

He called on judges like himself and magistrates to always render justice void of any considerations and biases, stressing that where there is justice, there is peace and where there is injustice, anarchy and chaos reign.

According to Judge Banwon, justice is inarguably the bedrock of social, economic and infrastructural development in any society, noting that it was therefore imperative that judges and magistrates make it their duty at all times, to uphold in practical terms, the basic tenants of legal justice to achieve the development objectives of the county.

“Unless River Cess places the issue of justice at the center of its development initiatives by tenaciously adhering to and supporting the rule of law,” he warned, “the county will not achieve the CDC Government’s pro-poor agenda for prosperity and development.”

Judge Banwon pleaded with the prosecution and defense lawyers of the county to work towards the speedy disposition of cases on the trial docket for the February 2019 term of court.

Responding to the charge, River Cess County Attorney, Attorney George Deray agreed with Judge Banwon and Justice Nagbe that justice produces peace and peace is a lead way to development.

Attorney Deray promised to work with the defense team and the court to ensure cases on its docket are dealt with expeditiously and legally.

The County Attorney named rape, sexual based violence and illegal possession of drugs as offenses on the increase in River Cess County noting that he has made contact with the SGBV unit at the Justice Ministry to commence prosecution of sexual assault cases in River Cess.

Also responding to the Judges Charge, the acting president of the River Cess Bar, Atty. James Baipay Seekpee called the attention of the court to evidence gathering as a major problem being experienced by prosecution.

Atty. Seekpee alleged that community people were not helpful to investigators and prosecutors seeking evidence to prosecute crimes even if they had information that could help.

On the issue of access to justice, Atty. Seekpee appealed to the Legislative caucus of the county to work with other local and national authorities to help set up magistrate courts across the county and train people to manage the magistrate courts to so be established.