The President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Sylvester D. Rennie is Recommending to the Supreme Court of Liberia to carry out stronger punishment against those who are in the constant habit of brutalizing Court officers while preforming their duties. “There are times where court officers, while enforcing the mandate of this Honorable Court and other Courts, are brutalized by some of our citizens. When these citizens are arrested and brought to Court, they are in most instances released, thereby demoralizing the officers,” the LNBA President said during the Supreme Court opening. Cllr. Rennie noted that because of said situation, the public tends to do anything to court officers while they are implementing Courts’ order, believing that they will not be reprimanded by the Courts. He stated that the Courts’ needs to reprimand those who carry out violent activities or disrupt the enforceability of the judgment of our Courts, adding that said action will further give respect to the exercise, irrespective of who is involved. “Dring the March Term, A.D. 2024 of this Honorable Court, Madam Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, stated in her address as to the appointment of Curators and Sheriffs, and how their presence in the various Courts have created some problems to our Judicial System,” he said. He continues: “At the opening of the October Term of Court, the Chief Justice, Her Honor Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, re-echoed and further expanded on the issue. It is the position of the Bar that the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Judicial Branch of Government work out the necessary modalities in ensuring that the appointment of Sheriffs, Curators and Constables are done in consonance with the law.” According to him, since his ascendancy to the position of President of the Bar, they have raised several issues, especially as it relates to the enforcement of judgment of the Honorable Court, adding “we are happy that the Judicial Branch of Government can see reason to collaborate with other stakeholders in addressing the numerous issues that Court Officers are faced with while enforcing Courts’ Mandate”. The LNBA President said in consistent with Article 4, Section 2 (1) of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) by-Laws and Constitution, election of Officers of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), shall be held every three (3) years, stressing that on the 28th day of November A.D. 2021, his leadership was elected at the National Convention to steer the affairs of the organization for a period of three (3) years. “This year being the third year following the ascendancy of your humble servant, the Bar’s next election is slated for November 30, 2024 in Ganta City, Nimba County, to elect a new corps of officers to govern the Bar for the next three (3) years. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, which states that “1. To everything there is a season, a time to very purpose under the heaven: 2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted,” to say in my own words, “a time to be elected and a time to exit,” he lamented. He indicated that he will be officially exiting the presidency of the LNBA at the end of this year, as such, the event mark his last response to the Chief Justice’s address as President of the LNBA during any opening of the Honorable Court. The LNBA President stressed that in order to carry out a smooth transition, an elections committee has been appointed, something which was endorsed by the National Executive Council of the LNBA, stating “the election committee which is being chaired by Cllr. J. Daku Mulbah, includes Cllrs. Kim Amelia Harris, Ade Wede Kekuleh, P. Beryl Best and Atty. George N. King, as the National Executive Council has also endorsed the guidelines sent to it by the election committee, which will be published this week”. President Rennie assure the body that his administration will turnover to members of the Bar a habitable first floor of the National Headquarters of the Bar, located on the Robertsfield Highway, adding that “as you may be aware, the contract with the previous contractor, Geoskope Construction Company, Inc. and the LNBA, was terminated, a new bid procedure was put into place, and following the vetting process, the Executive Council endorsed JES Engineering Company to continue the project, and work on the National Headquarters of the LNBA will resume this week”. He indicated that the Bar is grateful to the Honorable Supreme Court for affording them the opportunity to partner and work together in ensuring that access to justice is achieved, the laws are adhered to and it was really an experience working with the high court. “We remain grateful to Your Honors for being a part of the National Convention that elected me to head this Institution and I will be glad and honor to have Your Honor present at the upcoming National Convention in Ganta City, Nimba County, at which time I will be exiting the Presidency of the Bar,” he said. He also thanked members of the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL) for allowing them to work together in advancing the cause of justice, and in similar vein, the LNBA commended the Legislature and Executive branches, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, International Partners, Judicial Staff through the Office of the Court Administrator and members of the National Executive Council, the entire Membership of the Bar, who overwhelmingly elected him in November 2021 to steer the affairs of the Institution. “Not forgetting our senior counselors, in particular, the senior advisor, Cllr. Pearl Brown-Bull. We also thank members of the Fourth Estate (the Press) for the level of support and cooperation accorded us. Madam Chief Justice, Associate Justices, the Dean, Members of the Bar, this response to the Chief Justice’s Address will be incomplete if I fail to mention that your humble servant graciously participated in the seating of the Chief Justice, Her Honor Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh and Associate Justices, their Honors Yami Quiqui-Gbeisay, Sr. and Ceaineh D. Clinton Johnson to their seats of Honors on the Supreme Court Bench. This was remarkable for my administration. “No one is tall enough to see tomorrow and no one is rich enough to buy yesterday, but it is by the grace of God that we are alive today,” he said.