GBARNGA – The assigned Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Bong County, Cllr. George S. Wiles, has urged judges and magistrates to refrain from any arbitrary actions that could undermine the credibility of Liberia’s judicial system.
Judge Wiles reminded the judges and magistrates that they are “Agents of Peace” and, as such, should always perform their judicial duties with a high degree of neutrality, fairness, impartiality, transparency, and professionalism to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
He emphasized that public opinion regarding the judiciary’s legitimacy, credibility, and trustworthiness can indirectly impact judicial decisions. Therefore, judges and magistrates should be mindful of public perception to uphold the judiciary’s integrity.
“The judiciary is designed as a separate and independent branch of government to uphold the rule of law and protect individual rights,” Cllr. Wiles said. “We, as judges and magistrates, are expected to make decisions based on legal principles, precedent, and the Constitution, rather than public sentiment. The work of the judiciary brings about a stable society where all are equal under the law.”
As the assigned judge for the November A.D. 2024 term of court, Judge Wiles highlighted the judiciary’s critical role in Liberia by interpreting and upholding the law, ensuring justice, and protecting individual rights. He noted that the judiciary ensures that laws passed by the legislature are applied fairly and consistently, settling disputes through an impartial process.
Judge Wiles reminded the judges and magistrates that the judiciary’s primary responsibility is to safeguard individual rights and liberties, ensuring that laws and government actions comply with constitutional principles. He emphasized that judiciary actors must ensure that all individuals, including government officials, are subject to the rule of law and that justice is administered without bias or favoritism.
“We have the power to review the constitutionality of laws and government actions, serving as a check on other branches of government,” Judge Wiles stressed.
Judge Wiles also expressed concern over the decline in budgetary allocations to the judiciary, which he said has limited support for staff capacity development, logistics, supplies, and infrastructure projects. He called on the Legislature to address laws that protect judges’ and magistrates’ rights by making appropriate budget allocations to strengthen the rule of law in Liberia.
“All persons are equal before the law and are therefore entitled to equal protection of the law. This principle ensures that all citizens, whether rich or poor, powerful or marginalized, are judged by the same laws equally applied. This is the true Rule of Law. The Court’s business is everybody’s business,” Judge Wiles declared.
He also emphasized that Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh has repeatedly stressed that the judiciary should not be treated as a mere government agency. The judiciary’s budget, fiscal allotments, and salary disbursements should not be subject to the whims of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
Quoting Article 72(a) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, Judge Wiles stated: “The Justices of the Supreme Court and all other judges shall receive such salaries, allowances, and benefits as shall be established by law. Such salaries shall be subject to taxes as defined by law, provided that they shall not otherwise be diminished. Allowances and benefits paid to Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of subordinate courts may by law be increased but may not be diminished except under a national program enacted by the Legislature; nor shall such allowances and benefits be subject to taxation.”
Judge Wiles made these remarks during the opening of the November Term of Court on November 11, 2024, in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The November Term docket includes 85 civil cases and 75 criminal cases.
Discussion about this post