Harper, Maryland County – The Resident Judge of the 4th Judicial Circuit Court in Harper, Maryland County has imposed fines on several judicial Magistrates in the county.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica in Harper, Judge Nelson Tokpah said the fine was imposed on these Magistrates due to their failure to attend the formal opening of the August 2016 term of court without written communication.
During the court opening, several magistrates in the county were absent including the County Attorney Aloysius Allison.
Judge Tokpah however said, his office is doing an official communication to these judicial actors stating their individual fines.
The 4th Judicial Circuit Court Judge said, the county attorney upon receiving the communication will be given a 3 -day ultimatum to pay the fine of US$100.00, while magistrates who were absent during the court opening are to pay the amount of US$50.00 within 72 hours.
The opening ceremony of the August 2016 term of court was graced by local authorities, civil society organizations, representatives from the youth and student communities, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Rule of Law Officer, and the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC).
Speaking on the topic “Clear interpretation of the law by the court”, the Resident Judge said prosecutors are direct interpreters of the law and as such they should observe their prosecution ethics so as to have practicing lawyers adapt their ways and ethics of prosecution.
The Circuit Judge who did not name the number of criminal and civil cases on docket, during his deliberation promised Marylanders that he will do all in his power to dispense justice during this term of court, by hearing more cases.
He also called on the selected jurors to ensure that justice is done in the court because they are main actors in the court.
For his part, the Administrative Assistant to the county superintendent Daniel Williams said, judicial actors staying away from the official opening of court in Maryland County is not a strange occurrence.
Mr. Williams also lauded the Circuit Judge for imposing fines on judicial actors for staying away during the official opening of the court, saying it will serve as a deterrence.
The Regional Coordinator of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Thomas Mawolo alleged that on several occasions magistrates in Maryland County leave their assigned areas without any excuse.
Commenting on the JPC boss allegation, the Coordinator of Trial Judges in Maryland County, Hon. Othello Dennis said Magistrate leave their assigned areas because of the search for better medical treatment and to defend some reports made by JPC and others to headquarters.
Report by George K. Momo 0880303757/[email protected]