Monrovia – The President of the Montserrado County Bar Association (MBA), Cllr. Sam Cooper is calling on President George Manneh Weah to complete the appointment of officials in the Judiciary Branch of government.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh 00231775524647 [email protected]
He made the call on Monday, March 18, 2019, at the Temple of Justice during the formal opening of the March Term of the 6th Judicial Civil Law Court.
“We will like to re-emphasize and re-echo that the president of the Republic of Liberia needs to complete his appointment in the Judiciary. His appointment has not been completed in the Republic of Liberia, in particular, the Judiciary,” Cllr. Cooper stressed.
Cllr. Cooper said there are judges and magistrates whose tenure has expired but are still occupying their position.
“The magistrates’ tenure over. Some magistrates have been serving now for 10 years without reappointment. So, we are calling on the President of the Republic of Liberia to complete his appointments,” he said.
Cllr. Cooper also pleaded with his colleagues (judges and magistrates) not to see his call as envy and disrespect but for the rule of law to prevail.
“We are not envying you as a magistrate but let the law takes its course, let the statue prevail. Some of you out of jurisdiction but we are just bowing before you because we have to do,” he noted.
Recently, at the formal opening of the March Term of the Supreme Court, the President of Liberia National Bar Association, Tiawan S. Gongloe stressed that it is not legal for a magistrate whose commission has expired to continue to serve as a magistrate.
Cllr. Gongloe added that section 7.5 of the Judiciary Law mandates that the tenure of magistrates is four years and may be renewed.
“We wish to point out that the judiciary should take note of the magistrates whose commissions have expired in order to recommend a renewal of their commissions or replace them, by attorneys-at-law, where their records suggest the necessity for such decisions,” the National Bar presidnet said. “According to section 7.5 of the Judiciary Law, the commission of a stipendiary magistrate in Liberia is for four years and may be renewed. It is not legal for a magistrate whose commission has expired to continue to perform as a magistrate”.