Maryland County Judge urges fair and impartial trials as court opens November Term

Published: November 12, 2025

HARPER, Maryland County — Resident Judge Nelson T. Tokpa of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court has called on judges, magistrates, lawyers, and law enforcement officers to ensure fair, transparent, and impartial trials as the November Term of Court formally opened on Monday in Harper.

Speaking during the ceremony, Judge Tokpa said the right to a fair trial remains a constitutional guarantee and a defining measure of public trust in the justice system.

“My charge takes into account the theme: ‘The Right to a Fair Trial in Our Courts,’” he said. “This right guarantees that court proceedings are fair, transparent, impartial, and effective regardless of the outcome.”

Judge Tokpa emphasized to judicial actors that a successful justice system relies on transparent procedures, adherence to due process, and the independence of judges.

“To be impartial means a judge or magistrate cannot be personally interested in the outcome of a case or be prejudiced or biased,” he said. “We must act solely in the interest of justice and the law.”

He emphasized that all accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty and highlighted the importance of public hearings, equal treatment of parties, access to legal counsel, and sufficient time for defense preparation.

During the opening, Judge Tokpa announced the appointment of Alphonso K. Cooper as the new Sheriff of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, urging court officers and the public to accord him the respect due his office.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Boniface Nyemah, Maryland County Monitor for the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, raised concerns over overcrowding at the Harper Central Prison.

Nyemah reported that the facility currently holds 145 inmates, nearly 30 more than its intended capacity of 116.

“Every time we come here, we raise this issue, but changes are slow,” Nyemah said. “Some detainees have spent more than two terms of court without trial. This is a violation of their fundamental rights.”

He warned that overcrowding poses serious public health risks, including the spread of airborne and skin-related communicable diseases, and called on magistrates to prioritize case reviews and reduce prolonged pretrial detention.

The November docket includes nine criminal cases: one murder, three rape cases, one theft, one assault, one burglary, and two appeals. Court records show rape cases have consistently dominated the criminal docket in Maryland County over the past four years.

Judge Tokpa concluded the opening ceremony by reaffirming his commitment to a justice system grounded in fairness and respect for the rule of law.

“We must ensure that justice is not only done but is seen to be done in every proceeding,” he said.