Monrovia – The African Group of the International Association of Judges has described the retirement benefit of The National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia as “Affront to judicial independence” in the country.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian, [email protected]
The African Group of the IAJ said it was informed of the appalling retirement benefit of judges and magistrates in country by the four-man delegation representing The National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia at its 61st Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.
In a resolution to the Government of Liberia, the group said the retirement benefit is grossly insufficient for judges and magistrates to live a dignified life that commensurate with their status.
“The African Regional Group was informed by the Liberian delegation that Judges and Magistrates receive about one-percent (1%) of all benefits. The retirement benefit is grossly insufficient for judges and magistrates to live a life that commensurate with their status. It is an affront to judicial independence,” the Resolution said.
The African Group of the IAJ reiterated that if the situation is not properly address by the Government of Liberia through the enactment of appropriate laws, it may lead to corruption in the judicial system.
“If this situation is not urgently addressed, it may lead to some judges and magistrates in corrupt engaging in corrupt practices in order to create a retirement nest egg. Therefore, The African Group of the IAJ is calling on the Government of Liberia to enact appropriate laws that would allow judges and magistrates to live a dignified life that commensurate with their status as former judges and magistrates,” the Resolution reads.
At the same time, the President of the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL) , Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, who led the four-man delegation to Morocco said retired judges receive LRD$ 7500 while retired magistrates receive less than the amount.
Speaking to team of reporters, Judge Willie added that the advocacy for the welfare of trial judges and magistrates begin in 2011, and since then, there has been no positive result.
“Pension benefit for judges and magistrates is inadequate. Judges receive LRD$7500 while magistrate receive less than that. Since 2011 we have yield no result in resolving the issue of judges and magistrates retirement benefit,” he said.
Judge Willie noted that there have been series of communication written to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia about the retirement benefit of judges and magistrates but up to present no result.
He also lamented that judges and magistrates who served their country diligently retired with little or nothing, some even get ill and died without benefit.
A script of one of the communications written to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia by NATJL which is in the possession of this paper reads: “We extent sincere compliments and write to inform you that the alarming living conditions of retired Judges and Magistrates have claimed the attention of our Association, which is primarily due to the insufficient amount given them during retirement. The situation is so embarrassing and humiliating to the extent that majority of these retired Judges and Magistrates are sick and shut-in, walk the streets of Liberia almost like beggars and some are now even deceased.
It is against this backdrop that, I as president of the Association, while delivering the Charge for the August A.D 2018 Term of Court for the Criminal Assizes for Montserrado County emphasized the degrading conditions of our members who have rendered services to the State during their youthful years. I also used that occasion to appeal to various stakeholders to assist us in whatever legal ways possible so that the appropriate institutions can enact requisite laws that will increase the benefits of Judges and Magistrates commensurate with their status and service to the State”.