Functions of the Institute
(a) Design, organize and conduct training programs, seminars, conferences, symposia and related programs for judges, magistrates, court clerks and other judicial personnel;
(b) Promote legal skills training as an integral part of career development of judges, magistrates, administrative staff, and other justice sector actors;
(c) To develop training policies and goals for judicial personnel and other justice sector actors in Liberia;
(d) Ensure that the contents of curricula for the training are standardized and strictly comply with training policy and goals set by the Institute;
(e) Design, organize and conduct training and other capacity building programs that address other specific needs and problems within the justice system;
(f) Promote and coordinate judicial training, research and development as an integral part of improving judicial administration and the rule of law with the aim of ensuring accessible, timely and effective justice;
(g) Undertake research and produce publications, reports and recommendations in respect to relevant aspects of the law and administration of justice;
(h) organize and conduct conferences, workshops, seminars and symposia for the purpose of enhancing skills of work efficiency and professional skills of personnel performing legal tasks in quasi-judicial bodies;
(i) Receive, consider, review, or advance on its own initiative, proposals for the capacity building that may be made or referred to it by the Legislative, Executive or Judiciary Branch of Government;
(j) Undertake research and compilation of current law pursuant to any capacity building program for judicial sector actors;
(k) Solicit for funds to support any projects or programs undertaken or to be undertaken by the Institute;
(l) Promote and facilitate participation by the public in any work of the Judicial Institute through seminars, workshops, conferences and other public meetings;
(m) Encourage national and international cooperation and networking in the performance of the functions of the Judicial Institute;
(n) Control, supervise and administer the assets and funds of the Judicial Institute in such manner and for such purpose as best promote the purpose for which the Institute is established;
(o) Award certificates to those trained in the Institute; and
(p) Do such other things as may be conducive and necessary for the attainment of the objects of the Institute.
Methodology
The strategic planning process adopted a participatory and consultative approach involving all members of staff and the Board of the Institute both vertically and horizontally as well as all the stakeholders for the Institute. At the beginning of the process, a preliminary meeting was held with the Chairman of the Board and the Executive Director who gave in-depth situational analysis of what was expected from the assignment. In addition, the consultant conducted the assignment together with the Executive Director and the entire Institute’s staff to ensure full coverage of all the components as well as to build team-work, commitment, support and ownership which is crucial to planning, development and implementation. The key activities in the Strategic Plan development included:
Review of all the relevant documents;
Counter-parting with the Institute’s personnel throughout the assignment period;
Consultation/interview sessions with all members of staff and stakeholders;
Holding three training sessions for the entire Institute staff on fundamental strategic planning concepts and process;
Conducting staff and Board meetings to review the draft; and
Submission of the draft and approval of the product by the Institute.
Review of the 2009-2011 Strategic Plan
The review was considered important for purposes of highlighting main achievements, challenges experienced and lessons learned that informed the development of the Institute’s Strategic Plan 2012—2017. The findings indicate that most of the planned objectives were achieved. The areas of achievement included:
- Implementation of the Magisterial Training Program where 60 magistrates were successfully trained;
- Preparation and publication of training manuals;
- Establishment of the governing board;
- Implementation of quarterly training programs for judges, Public defenders and In-Service Magistrates;
- Continued staffing of the Institute;
Vision, Mission and Core Values:
The vision, mission and core values of the James A.A. Pierre Judicial Institute were agreed upon through consultations and discussions with the Institute’s staff and management, and various stakeholders as:
Core values :
- Integrity;
- Efficiency;
- Competence and Professionalism;
- Innovativeness;
- Teamwork;
Strategic Issues and Objectives
A number of strategic issues that the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute intends to address including its core mandate were identified and include
- The need to develop customer focused curricula for Judges, Magistrates, judicial personnel and other judicial actors,
- The need to recruit qualified personnel with appropriate competencies, skills and experience to effectively respond to the dynamisms in the judicial sector and the introduction of new demand driven programs;
- The need for financial sustainability;
- The need to develop synergies with the Judiciary, Law School, the Liberia National Bar Association, the Law Reform Commission and other stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally to support ethics and continuing education;
- The need to keep abreast with technological changes and advancements;
- The need to secure own premises and thereby expand and improve the physical facilities;
- The need to secure operational, financial and legal autonomy through the enactment of a law.
Monitoring and Evaluation
One of the key elements of this Plan is the process for monitoring and evaluating performance. The M&E System, which will work in tandem with the Implementation Matrix and annual work plans, will be designed to ensure that effective information systems and clear reporting schedules and feedback mechanisms are established.
