HARPER, Maryland County – The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court officially opened its August 12, 2024, term on Monday at the Maryland County Administration Building, bringing a total of 79 cases to the docket. Among these, 15 are criminal cases, including seven statutory rape cases, and 64 are civil cases.
By Henry N. Kolenky, Maryland County
In his formal charge to the court, Judge Nelson Chinneh emphasized the theme: “Upholding Judicial Integrity: A Way of Countering Negative Perception.” Addressing the public, Judge Chinneh lamented the erosion of public confidence in Liberia’s judiciary, attributing it to judicial manipulation, interference, and corruption. He stressed that restoring the judiciary’s tarnished image requires the collective commitment of all judicial actors—judges, lawyers, clerical staff, ministerial officers, the press, and the general public.
Judge Chinneh underscored the importance of neutrality and integrity in judicial officers. He urged judges to base their decisions on evidence presented during trials and to ensure that the trial process remains open to the public. He also called on his colleagues to refrain from passing judgments without due process, emphasizing that due process is a fundamental legal principle that guarantees the accused an opportunity to be heard before being condemned.
The judge further criticized the unethical practice of stirring up litigation and advocated for mandatory legal education. He called for the empowerment of the Judicial Institute to provide continued legal education for all justice sector actors, independent of the Liberia National Bar Association’s conventions.
Attorney Adolphus Taylor, the lone public defender in Maryland County and a veteran Liberian journalist, also spoke at the event. He expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for sending Attorney Dominic Swor, another veteran journalist-turned-lawyer, to assist in the pursuit of justice. Taylor reiterated that the role of defense lawyers is not to protect those perceived as evildoers but to ensure that everyone receives a fair trial and is treated with human dignity. He emphasized that under Liberian law, all individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty, condemning the practice of “jungle justice.”
Attorney Taylor also reminded the public that the prosecution’s duty is not merely to convict but to ensure that justice is served by protecting the innocent and convicting the guilty.
Meanwhile, Boniface Nyemah, the coordinator of the Independent Commission on Human Rights, disclosed during the court’s opening that his office has investigated five cases of mysterious disappearances in Karluway and Harper Districts. Nyemah expressed concern that the bones of those who disappeared remain undiscovered, causing fear among residents. He urged the judiciary to bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that these disappearances could deter potential investors from the region. Nyemah also called attention to the prolonged detention of pretrial detainees, labeling it a violation of their rights and urging the county attorney’s office to take swift action.
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