The President of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) Cllr. Philomena Williams, has called on judicial actors to see their role as “very key” in combating corruption and in strengthening accountability in the judicial sector of the country.
Cllr. Williams made the reference to the theme of the just ended general assembly for members of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA).
The assembly was held on the theme: “The LNBA and the Fight against Corruption, Strengthening Accountability in the Judicial Sector.”
Cllr. Williams said for external enforcement mechanisms to be affective as anti-corruption advocates, the bar has an obligation to set for itself a compliance-based approach focusing on internal operation.
Moreover, she called on the members to see the bar as a team that can support and strengthen accountability in the Judicial sector by promoting ethical standards.
Cllr. Williams underscored the importance of the rule of law, which she defined as a core principle of accountability, adding that it is the crust of a viable judicial sector, which is critical to the fight against corruption.
“Let us be very clear, whether it is the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of the government as well as citizens, we are all subject to the law,” she said.
Cllr. Williams, has meanwhile challenged her colleagues to work to preserve their independence and integrity by uphold the honor and dignity of the courts to effectively and efficiently fight corruption and strengthen the country’s judicial sector,
“My dear colleagues, as good lawyers, we were made great lawyers, and so, we must remain without fear or favor,” she said.
She then congratulated the Yuoh’s Bench of the Supreme Court for opinions rendered sanctioning lawyers, magistrates and Judges for “unethical practices.”
According to her, The Yuoh bench has demonstrated a strong system of internal accountability to bring judicial actors to face disciplinary actions such as the imposition of penalties consistent with the law.