By Grace Q. Bryant
The Supreme Court of Liberia has suspended Judge Solo Teah of the River Gee County with immediate effect.
The suspension affects his salary and all associated benefits for his continued involvement in politics.
According to the letter, Judge Teah has been surrounded with lots of corrupt activities in River Gee County and lots of complaints have been filed against him at the Supreme Court but there has been no action taken against him.
His suspension letter, under the signature of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh stated, “It has been brought to my attention that you are canvassing for legislative seat in River Gee County in the pending October 10 Presidential and Legislative elections.”
The Chief Justice furthered that the information was confirmed by a local radio station in River Gee County, “I am told this is not the first time you are participating in a political process while serving as Revenue Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit,” she stated.
“Upon receiving the information of your involvement in the current electoral process, my office, including the court administrator, has repeatedly placed numerous calls to you in an attempt to verify same but to no avail,” the court noted.
“I’m further informed that the office of the court administrator contacted you through your son, Magistrate Solo Teah Jr., who is also assigned in River Gee County, informing you to proceed to Monrovia to discuss this matter, but you have elected to disobey said directives. During my meeting with magistrates on June 13, it was confirmed by your son that you were in fact in Monrovia and were informed of this directive but you failed to comply with same,” the high court expressed.
“I hereby remind you of Judicial Canon 37 which states in part, “A judge should not appear at political meetings and indicate support of candidates for political office (nor should he permit his wife or her husband to give political teas)” the Chief Justice maintained.
She added that the canon supports the old age tradition which has guided that Branch of Government through the ages and prohibits judges from participating in political processes for the purpose of protecting the “cold neutrality” of their vocation at all times.
“In view hereof, you are hereby immediately suspended from work without salary and all associated benefits. We will communicate with the Circuit Court judge concerning the operation of your court during the period of this administrative action,” the high court ordered.
