Kakata – The Presiding Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County says in order to have an effective and functioning judicial system, the three branches of government must coordinate their functions so as to bring total law and order of the country.
Judge George S. Wiles, Jr. said the court alone cannot handle the affairs of the judicial systems alone but must be done collectively involving the Legislature and the Executive Branches of Government.
Judge George S. Wiles, Jr. is the Resident Circuit Judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Gedeh County but is presiding over the 13th Judicial Circuit Court by assignment for the November A.D. 2016 Term of Court in kakata, Margibi County.
According to the Liberia News Agency, Judge Wiles made the statement Monday at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Kakata at program marking the formal opening of court for its November A.D. 2016 Term.
Judge Wiles said it is the full responsibility of the three Branches of Government to make the rule of law work effectively but each must coordinate and collaborate as citizens have the tendency to look up to the Judiciary alone in determining whether the Court’s judgment was based on the facts, and law.
Judge Wiles said during the dispensation of justice, litigants expect judges to be impartial, schooled in legal reasoning, fully knowledgeable about the law, reasonably efficient in handling the matters before them and not susceptible to political manipulation and free of corruption.
Judge Wiles also stated that the Criminal Justice System of Liberia was going through a reform and as such all Branches of government have a total responsibility to ensure that the rule of law works as it is the only hope for us after a period.
He indicated that Liberia was emerging from conflict or authoritarian rule and the need for its international partners need to play an important role in helping to support our fragile domestic institutions and to build sustainable peace and rule of law.
“In a post- conflict or post- Authoritarian Liberia, the entire public must benefit from a personnel of reform program that should prioritize military, law enforcement, intelligence services, the Judiciary and other institutions that underpin the Rule of Law” Judge Wiles added.
Speaking further, Judge Wiles noted that these public institutions, especially the Judiciary, is most directly responsible for maintaining stability and fundamental security, and protecting the basic human rights must not be taken for granted as government should create important conditions for effective and expeditious transition to lasting peace and the Rule of Law.
He then called for the allowances and other benefits not to be diminished but rather increased from time to time as it was constitutional.
Responding to the Judge’s charge, the Dean of the Local Bar and Acting County Attorney of Margibi County, Atty. Isaac L. George, Jr. said his office will ensure a successful term of court.
Atty. George said it was very important that all actors of the law play their part to ensure the full dispensation of justice under the rule of law.
He said it was very noteworthy that the Justice System starts with the police and before being forwarded to court which is the final arbiter of justice needs the full collaboration of all judicial actors to ensure the proper dispensation of justice.
At the same time, the Public Defender of Margibi County, Atty. M. Kron Yangbe has expressed serious concern about the over crowdedness of the Kakata Central Prison.
Atty. Yangbe said the central prison was built for only 60 inmates but has exceeded its limits with over 150 persons currently at the prison facility.
He said it was very worrisome as this could overwhelm the strength of the correction officers and lead to possible jail break as have been the case in recent times.
He said to help decongest the Kakata Central Prison, it will very expedient to invoke jail delivery which is applicable in the laws of Liberia but however was very quick to point out that only inmates with lesser crimes or that are not of capital offense should be allowed to benefit from it.
About 40 cases, including 34 criminal cases and 4 civil cases are on the trial docket for its November term at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court.
