NTJAL to accrue huge benefits from its membership with IAJ (02/13/2018)
NTJAL to accrue huge benefits from its membership with IAJ
The President of the National Trail Judges Association of Liberia, NTJAL, has said that the Association stands to benefit enormously from its membership in the International Association of Judges, IAJ.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, Resident Circuit Judge of Criminal Court “A”, named some of the key objectives of the IAJ for its members around the world as ensuring the independence of the Judiciary, guaranteeing honesty and integrity in the judiciary by making sure that judges are logistically equipped, as a way of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in the system.
Judge Willie made the statement during the opening of the February A.D 2018 Term of court at the Temple of Justice when he delivered the joint charge for Criminal Courts A, B, C, D and E.
Speaking further, NTJAL President told the gathering that the IAJ also promotes net-working among member associations and protects its members from arbitrary interference and subsequent violation of their rights.
“What this means to us as an Association is that, we can revert to our parent body, meaning the IAJ, when these privileges are not provided us and all diplomatic means fail to make the authority know and grant them to us” Judge Willie noted.
According to the NTJAL President, the protection of the above listed privileges for judges comes with great responsibility of performing to a very high ethical expectation, adding that it was important to remind themselves about the maxim in the law, which states that he who goes to equity must go with clean hands.
“For example, a Judge cannot receive money from party litigants and refused to give receipt. A magistrate should and must not conduct survey on a land, where the two parties are claiming title. A magistrate should not charge any bail bond arbitrarily, but the fees should be based on the degree of the offence. Judges and Magistrates must ensure that all fees and fines are deposited into the Judiciary accounts and should not keep them. Judges and Magistrates must stop delaying cases because of some interests and allow party litigants and lawyers to spend funds on assignments and transportation.”
Judge Willie used the occasion to call for improvement in the retirement benefits of judges and magistrates, noting that there is a need to review the current monthly retirement package of LD$7,500 for judges and the withdrawal of vehicles they use during active service.
On the issue of remunerations for judges and magistrates, the NATJL President said salaries and other benefits for judges and magistrates “shall not be diminished without a national program enacted by the Legislature as enshrined in Article 72 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution.”
He also said “Judges shall not be suspended for final judgment rendered in a case; since appeal is a constitutional right. Judges and Magistrates must be provided vehicles and other logistics like any other government officials so as to make their movement easy and efficient on the job. All discussions for programs to include the Judiciary budget and insurance must include the NATJL, since they may ultimately be affected.”
To deal with ethical issues in the body, Judge Willie said the NATJL has established an Inquiry Committee within its Constitution to ensure strict compliance to ethical standards.
He urged party litigants, the general public and even their own members to report judges or magistrates who may behave unethically discharge their functions.
The NATJL President then praised the government for efforts made so far towards improving the incentives of Judges and Magistrates, but said, the government needed to more to ensure the independence and dignity of judges and magistrates during active service and retirement. “We will not also allow our members to retire in poverty after serving the people of this country sacrificially, while other employees of other functionaries of government retire in luxury and comfort.
Responding to the judges’ joint charge, State and Defense counsels praised the judges for the efforts and sacrifices they are making to bring credibility to the judiciary and promised to assist in whatever way possible to ensure problems and challenges in the judiciary are collectively dealt with, as a means of promoting a strong Justice System.
The opening of the February A.D 2018 term of court was attended by hundreds of prospective jurors, lawyers, magistrates and the public. Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. and some international partners also graced the ceremony.
