The appointments of “unqualified and or fake magistrates and others in the judiciary, have claimed the attention of the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL).
As such, NATJL has criticized recent judicial appointments that placed “individuals without legal training or certification into magisterial positions across the country.”
In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice, His Honor, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, NATJL President, Nancy Sammy, warned that “progress in the judiciary is being undermined by appointments that bypassed both criteria at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, and the James A.A. Pierre Judicial Training Institute (JI).”
Judge Sammy recalled how the JI was established to ensure professional recruitment, and training of magistrates, “but the procedure has been ignored.”
“If appointments can bypass the legal recruitment, and training process, then what becomes of the necessity and credibility of the Law School; the JI, and of those at present undergoing legal training?” she rhetorically asked.
Individuals, the NATJL said, that are allegedly appointed as associate magistrates without graduating from JI or Louise Arthur Grimes School of Law, have been named.
They are Rufus Kekeh, assigned at the Zuolay Magisterial Court, Nimba County; Willeyon Y. Gbeisay, assigned at the Paynesville Magisterial Court, Montserrado County; Joseph K. K. Fallah, assigned at the Gbar Magisterial Court, Bomi County; Windell Miller, Edina Magisterial Court, Grand Bassa County, and Aaron Morgan Tokpah, Bopolu City Magisterial Court, Gbarpolu County.
Others are: Jarty Barclay, Kongbor Magisterial Court, Gbarpolu County; Aquoi Kennedy, Kongbor Magisterial Court, Gbarpolu County, and Harris M. Boakai, Voinjama City Magisterial Court, Lofa County.
Judge Sammy has meanwhile, attention Chief Justice Gbeisay to intervene swiftly.
She also warned that “continued disregard for legal qualifications could erode public trust in the judiciary.”
“The integrity and independence of the judiciary must be safeguarded,” Judge Sammy said, noting: “Timely corrective action is essential to restoring public confidence in our courts,”
Source: Monrovia Latest News