Monrovia – As Liberians prepare to go to the forth-coming Presidential and Legislative elections come October 10, 2017 Chief Justice Korkpor has asked Judicial employees to avoid campaign activities at all court facilities in the country.
The Chief Justice’s call was contained in a remark made during the opening of the August 2017 Term of Court which took place across the country on Monday, August 14, 2017 with many of the judicial employees absent.
“No one will stop your political ambition but don’t bring your political activities here and all court facilities in the country, don’t wear party t-shirts and place posters on the wall of this court and all court facilities in the country” said Chief Justice who vowed to arrest and prosecute would-be violators.
He told the gathering that judges who are desirous of contesting the forth coming elections to resign his or her position and go into the race and indicated that besides judges any judicial workers desirous to contest the elections can ask for leave and go but will not be offered any salary.
This is the second time that Chief Justice Korkpor has called on judicial employees interested in politics to resign, as the Judiciary is not a place for political activities indicating that judges need to be fair in their dealings.
However, on the issue of the current impeachment resolution prepared by some lawmakers to have three Associate Justices, Kabineh Ja’neh, Banks and Wolokollie impeached, Chief Justice Korkpor stated he cannot comment on the matter because the case is before him for adjudication.
But in his charge to have the August term open, Yussif Kaba the presiding judge of the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice called on the lawmakers to respect the law that called for the separation of power among the three branches of government which the law requires should be free of interference.
“It is only an independent and impartial judiciary that can effectively guarantee the process of preserving and protecting the fundamental rights and liberties of the people, without independence and protection, the judicial system and process will be a mockery because it will be susceptible to manipulation by other powerful institutions of government” said Judge Kaba.
Judge Kaba indicated the need to ensure public confidence in the integrity of officials of the judiciary is provided in Article 71 of the Constitution that the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of subordinate courts of record shall hold office during good behavior and they may be removed upon impeachment and conviction by the Legislature based on proved misconduct, gross breach of duty, inability to perform the function of their office, or conviction in a court of law for treason, bribery or other infamous crimes.
The Criminal Court “C” Judge revealed that no judicial official shall be summoned, arrested, detained, prosecuted or tried civily or criminally by or at the instance of any person or authority on account of judicial opinions rendered or expressed.
For the August 2017 Term, Judge Roosevelt Willie will serve as Judge of the Criminal Court “A”, Peter Gbeneweleh for Court “B”, Yussif Kaba Court “C” Mardea Chenoweth, Court “D” and Serena Garlawolo Court “E”.