PUBLIC DEFENDERS’ UNDERGO TRAINING
PUBLIC DEFENDERS UNDERGO TRAINING
The James A.A. Pierre Judicial Institute at the Judiciary Branch of Government in collaboration with the Legal Professional Development and Anti-Corruption (LPAC),on Monday October 16, 2017, began a four days quarterly training workshop for Public Defenders at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia.
The Acting Director at the James A.A. Pierre Judicial Institute, Atty. Moses S. Soribah, on behalf of the Institute, welcomed the participants to the training program emphasizing that the training was in fulfillment of their quest to provide continue legal education program to legal practitioners as well as provide the environment for adequate access to legal education, especially to citizens who do not have the financial means for proper and adequate legal representation within our courts. He expressed thanks and appreciation to USAID through CHECCH for its support to the Institute in achieving this goal.
Atty. Soribah also thanked UNMIL for its support in strengthening the Public Defenders’ capacity, knowledge and understanding on present human rights concerns. In closing, he wished all participants a successful four days training, adding, “knowledge gain will become a plus to adequately carry out your tasks at your various courts”.
In a brief remark, the Chief of Party at (LPAC), Gerald E. Megerman, urged all Public Defenders to improve their legal services to the Liberian people and ensure that those who don’t have money are given proper legal service.
For her part, the Presidentof the National Association of Public Defenders of Liberia, Atty. Algera Barchue, thanked the USAID and other partners for their immense support given to the Public Defenders in Liberia. Such support, she stressed go a very long way in enhancing the work of the Public Defenders and ensuring more efficient dispensation of justice in Liberia.
Topics to be presented during the four-day training workshop are as follows:
- legal writing;
- pre-trial conference and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) application in the courtroom;
- jurisdiction and procedure in the Criminal Court “E” (Sexual Offenses Court);
- trial technique: direct and cross examination, oral and documentary evidence submissions;
- international human rights, major human rights instruments, right of women and childrenand the trial process.
The overall objective of the training is to help enrich the legal capacity of the Public Defenders.
