Monrovia – There is a need for reform in the country’s Judiciary system to meet present day realities, stressed Debt Court Judge James Jones, at a two- day training of over 50 judges and Magistrates across the country.
During the close of the training on Thursday, Judge Jones revealed that his colleagues around the country are working under stress due to their burdensome workload they are faced with, saying they should have research assistants to aid them in carrying out their duties.
“Judges need someone like a research assistant who will help them reduce some of the work load, we listen to motion, conduct research of the law and make judgment in the absence of a research officer,” said Judge Jones.
The Debt Court Judge also stressed the need to amend some of the basic law especially in the areas of appeals by party litigants.
According to Jones since the issue of appeal is a right under the country’s laws and practices, the delay in appeal cases means there is a need to establish three courts of appeal to help fast track cases of appeal, naming Grand Gedeh, Central Liberia and Monrovia as locations for the would be appeal courts.
Commenting on the training, he called on his colleagues to take advantage of the opportunity, adding it is meant to review decisions made in the past as emotions should never get in the way of judgment.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including corruption, judgment writing and the new juror law among others, according to Judge Roosevelt Willie, president of the Trial Judges Association.
He said the new juror law was brought on the table for discussion, saying that it is something every judge has to know about as it has financial implication on the judiciary.
Mini Samuels, Associate Professor of legal writing and Laurel Currie Oates both of whom are from the Seattle University in the United States served as facilitators.
“We have come as facilitator to teach the judges the basic concept of judgment writing because it is very important in the legal field,” said the two law professors who have long years of experience as legal practitioners.
The training was conducted by the James A.A. Judicial Training Institute at the Temple of Justice.
Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]