The 9th Judicial Circuit Court is heading into its November 2026 term with 94 cases remaining on its docket, while another 38 criminal cases are awaiting indictment, according to a statistical report covering the court’s May 2026 term.
The figures have highlighted the volume of cases moving through the circuit and raise questions about the pace of criminal proceedings, particularly the number of cases yet to advance through the indictment process.
According to the report, the court began the May term with 113 cases, comprising 89 cases on the regular circuit docket and 24 cases in the Sexual Offenses Division.
During the reporting period, 20 cases were recorded as disposed of or tried. These included 12 successful prosecution outcomes, two jury-verdict losses and six dismissals.
The 12 successful outcomes consisted of one full-trial victory, 10 confessed judgments and one plea bargain. The prosecution also recorded two losses through jury verdicts, while no acquittals were listed under the full-trial-loss category.
Of the six dismissed cases, two were discontinued through nolle prosequi, a legal procedure through which prosecutors withdraw criminal proceedings. The remaining four were dismissed at the request of defense lawyers.
One of the cases resulting in a full-trial victory was Republic of Liberia v. Sampson Suah, involving a murder charge. Other cases resolved through confessed judgments included allegations of armed robbery, drug offenses, arson, assault and sexual offenses.
However, the report does not provide details of the sentences imposed or the specific circumstances surrounding the individual case outcomes.
For the November 2026 term, the court’s statistical breakdown lists 112 cases, comprising 93 carried forward from the May term and 19 newly indicted cases.
The report also records one hung verdict in Republic of Liberia v. Samuel Zearto and Joseph Darmah, a murder case. A hung verdict occurs when jurors cannot reach the required agreement on a decision.
38 Cases Await Indictment
Beyond the cases already before the court, the report identifies 38 criminal matters still awaiting indictment, raising concerns about the movement of cases from investigation to formal prosecution.
The document indicates that 30 cases were transferred from the Liberia National Police and magistrate courts during the reporting period, while 29 were carried forward from previous terms, bringing the total number available for indictment to 59.
However, only six indictments were drawn during the period under review, while 13 were carried forward from previous terms, bringing the total number of indictments to 19.
Consequently, 38 cases remained pending indictment, including 23 from the current reporting period and 15 carried forward from previous terms.
The pending cases involve serious allegations, including murder, statutory rape, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, arson, aggravated assault and drug-related offenses.
Among the cases listed are Republic of Liberia v. Amos Kerkula and Republic of Liberia v. Richard Denteh, both involving murder allegations.
Questions Over Court Efficiency
The statistics provide an overview of the court’s workload as it prepares for the November term, but they also underscore the need for timely case processing and stronger coordination among prosecutors, investigators and judicial authorities.
With dozens of cases still awaiting indictment, the report points to outstanding work within the criminal justice process.
However, it does not establish the reasons for the pending cases or identify any particular institution as responsible for the backlog.
The document also contains inconsistencies in its docket figures. Although it records 94 cases remaining after the May term, the November breakdown lists 93 carried-forward cases and 19 newly indicted cases, bringing the total to 112.
Additionally, the prosecution fund section contains headings for beginning balances, funds received and case expenses but provides no corresponding financial figures.
