Charlyne Mnamah-Mar Brumskine, ma lawyer by profession has sent d cautioned follow lawyers against corruption. She also encouraged lawyers, judicial actors and stakeholders who participated in the recently hosted general assembly for Liberian National Bar Association in Monrovia.
Charlyne contested as vice presidential candidate in the 2023 general and presidential elections on the ticket of the Alternative National Congress, but lost.
Her comment was contained in a keynote address at the gathering of the barristers, who came from their various assignments across the country.
Among others issues, Charlyne spoke on topics of public and judicial corruption, accountability. She drew parallel between law and politics with strategic recommendation to strengthen the fight against corruption and judicial capacity.
The female learned lawyer described corruption as the enemy within, arguing that if the law is sacred, then corruption is desecrated “because corruption in the legal sector is not merely a flaw, rather a betrayal that erodes public trust; compromises the impartiality of institutions that sends a dangerous message to mean justice can be bought, delayed or denied.”
She warned her colleagues not to take bribes, adding: “bribe changes the course of a case; a file goes missing mysteriously and influence overrides evidence, then the nation and judicial actors do more than commit an injustice, but break faith with the people they are meant to serve.”
“I submit to you, fellow lawyers and judges because it is time for the better twins to rise—for law to stand with courage, integrity and purpose to guide our nation not only toward progress but toward justice.”
She then called on her colleagues not to be like Jacob in the bible, noting that the law must not only seek for blessings, which in many cases result to financial gain—”it must wrestle, refine itself and ultimately reconcile with the beneficiaries of justice for everyday Liberian.”
On accountability, Charlyne recommends that the law must police itself, warning that Liberian prayers for a better country is not enough just in words but to put their hopes and aspirations into actions.
“We must manifest the very thing we so desire of the country. Every day, we groan and murmur about the deteriorating systems. Still, we fail to look in the mirror at the contributing role each of us plays in its deterioration. LNBA, we must build a culture among us where no lawyer is above the law and no judge is beyond question. Where our systems—our disciplinary committees, our courts, our county bar associations—do not just protect us, but challenge us to live up to the oath we took. Accountability is not an attack on our profession—it is a blessing to it. It tells the people.”
In her opening remark earlier, LNBA president Cllr. Bonor M. Varmah, described the gathering as a fulfilment of the lawyers’ constitutional obligation, and an opportunity to reaffirm their collective commitments to upholding the rule of law; access to justice and the advancement of the profession.