By Grace Q. Bryant
The Assigned Judge of the Civil Law Court, Yemi Gbeisay, says the ongoing challenges in the country’s Judiciary is leading to the lawless society that Liberia is growing into gradually.
Speaking at the opening of Civil Law Court A and B, yesterday, Judge Gbeisay stated that the challenges is in enforcing judgments from the Supreme Court.
According to Judge Gbeisay, without the legal system, the country will face a break down and urged every citizen to respect the rule of law in sustaining the democracy of the state; explaining further that there are over 10 enforcing from the Supreme Court that is yet to be implemented based on constant attack on court’s Sheriffs from citizens.
The Judge also frowned on lawyers for their constant lateness in courts’ proceedings which is impeding their work stressing that the court will take hard decisions during this court term against lawyers who are bend on damaging the Judiciary’s image.
The Solicitor General, Syrenius Cephus, praised the Civil Law Court Judges for being on time to work every day and frowned on other lawyers who are contently engaged into discussing the Judiciary in the media space.
Cllr. Cephus stressed that the last place for people to get redress and hope is at the court therefore, the Judiciary should be a place of relieve and committed the government support in enforcing any order from the courts.
Meanwhile, in delivering his charge, Judge Scheaplor Dunbar also called on lawyers to avoid tardiness in the performance of their duties and added that the court has the right to accept or reject any notice of withdrawal and proceed with the case if it determines that it was filed for the sole purpose of delaying the hearing and final determination of the case.
“We will impose heavy fines on lawyers who come to court late or any lawyer who refuses to honor notice of assignments issued by the court,” the Judge further warned.
According to him, any lawyer who engages in such conduct during the term will be fine heavily so as to discourage the constant delays in the hearing of cases which results into last minute withdrawals.
“When a case is assigned for hearing, do not stay away simply because you have filed a notice of withdrawal with the clerk of court,” Judge Dunbar explained.
He urged all lawyers who have business before the court to be very punctual in attending to assignments that will be issued pointing out, “It is not good for your client to come to court only to find out that you appeared very late for the hearing of his / her case or that you did not appear at all.
He maintained that it is unethical for a lawyer to charge a client far more than what is the reasonable cost should be for superintending an assignment.