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THE JUVENILE COURT

MONTSERRADO COUNTY

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

 

Clerk of Court	Contact Number	Email
Gaasidah Flanjay	231886412701 / 231778297601	flanjaygaasidah@gmail.com

 

Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court has original jurisdiction over juvenile matters and is mandated to have exclusive original jurisdiction in special proceedings concerning any juvenile, living or found within geographic area.

Although there is statutory mandate for the creation of a Juvenile Court in each county of the Republic and lesser geographic units, only the county of Montserrado currently has a fully constituted Juvenile Court. The Magisterial Courts in the other counties are mandated to assume juvenile court jurisdictions whenever it becomes necessary.

The Circuit court in the county in which a Juvenile Court or Magisterial Court assumes juvenile jurisdiction has appellate jurisdiction over adjudications or dispositions of the court. An appropriate Monthly and Probate Court may also exercise appellate jurisdiction over adjudications or dispositions of the juvenile court.

Opening dates of the Juvenile Court: The Juvenile Court is opened for the adjudication of cases monthly. 

Appointment and tenure of the Juvenile Court Judge: The President shall nominate and with the consent of the Senate, appoint and commission the Judge of the Juvenile Court of Liberia who shall preside and hold office during good behavior.

 

          JUVENILE PROCEDURE CODE

 

The Code govern the practice and procedure in the Juvenile Court in the special proceedings coming within the jurisdiction of such court and, in so far as practicable, in the special proceedings in the magisterial courts upon the assumption by such courts of juvenile court jurisdiction as provided in the Judiciary Law. It also govern the method of appeal from determinations made in such special proceedings and in so far as applicable to the practice and procedure upon a trial de novo on a appeal being allowed.

 

Where the method of procedure in any such special proceeding is not prescribed by this Code, the procedure in accord with the rules of court promulgated for the juvenile courts by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and if none has been promulgated, with the provisions of the Civil Procedure Law to the extent they are suitable to the special proceeding involved. Reference in this Code to the juvenile court include the magisterial courts upon the assumption by such courts of juvenile court jurisdiction, as provided in the Judiciary Law and appellate courts upon its trial de novo when an appeal is allowed from a determination made in any special proceeding provided for herein.

 

The purpose of this Code is to provide a due process of law for the just determination of all cases coming within the jurisdiction of the juvenile courts and the magisterial courts when such courts are empowered to assume juvenile court jurisdiction under the Judiciary Law, to protect the welfare of juvenile and the community.

 

The Code is liberally construed to the end that each juvenile coming under juvenile court jurisdiction must receive such care, guidance and control, preferably in his own home, as well conduce to the juvenile’s welfare and the best interest of the Republic. In the instances when such juvenile is removed from the control of his parents, guardian or other custodian, the court must secure for him care as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given him by his parents. In furtherance of this and, informed preliminary conferences and negotiations terminating in decrees entered upon consent are primary objective.