MONROVIA — The Resident Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Boimah Kontoe, has issued a writ of summons for contempt against 33 members of the Bong County Bar Association for failing to attend the formal opening of the February A.D. 2025 term of court.
The summons follows the lawyers’ alleged absence from the opening session on Monday, February 10, 2025, which is a violation of court rules and Chapter 3.3.8 of the New Judicial Law of Liberia. This law stipulates that the judge is the head of the court and that lawyers can be penalized for showing disrespect to the authority of the court.
Judge Kontoe has instructed the Clerk of Court to summon the 33 lawyers and ensure their appearance before the court on Monday, February 17, 2025, to explain why they should not be penalized for failing to attend the court’s opening.
“The Clerk is hereby mandated to issue a writ of summons for contempt against members of the Bong County Bar who were absent from the court’s opening without a valid excuse,” Judge Kontoe ordered.
According to him, the lawyers are required to justify their absence, and if their explanations are not deemed convincing, they may face legal consequences. He warned that those who failed to attend without valid justification would be fined up to $100 USD, stressing that such penalties would serve as a deterrent to future violations.
“It is compulsory for all lawyers practicing within this circuit to attend the opening ceremony of each term of court,” Judge Kontoe emphasized.
He highlighted the importance of lawyers’ presence at the court’s opening, stating that it allows them to stay informed about the influx of cases and ongoing judicial proceedings.
At the same time, Judge Kontoe decried the lack of financial support as a major challenge affecting the operations of Bong County’s nine magisterial courts, revealing that one has already shut down due to funding constraints. He noted that the closure of one court, coupled with the financial struggles of the others, is undermining efforts to expedite the adjudication of cases.
He issued an urgent appeal to the Bong County Legislative Caucus to provide financial support for the courts’ operations while the national government works on a long-term solution.
Judge Kontoe made the disclosure during his charge at the formal opening of the February A.D. 2025 term of court in Gbarnga on Monday.
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