Chief Justice Youh Warns Lawyers Against Dilatory Tactics By: Yassah J. Wright

 Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh said the Supreme Court will not hesitate to institute measures to curb, or eradicate, all forms of dilatory tactics of lawyers’ practice intended to frustrate and delay the enforcement of courts’ judgment. “More disappointingly, lawyers who ought to be officers of the law also, under a pretext of providing zealous rather than legal representation, take liberty in filing frivolous and unmeritorious petitions, all for the sole purpose of frustrating and delaying the enforcement of courts’ judgment, thus hindering the administration of justice,” she stressed. Chief Justice Yuoh re-echoed that the time for warming President Boakai is over and it is now time to act. She said the Supreme Court has constituted a review committee on the revised Rules of Courts, the code of moral and professional ethics of lawyers and the judicial cannons, as well as their procedural codes, with the end purpose of identifying challenges and shortcomings. The Liberian Chief Justice stated that she finds no stronger words her conviction in ensuring the administration of justice than the words which she pronounced during the November 2022 conversation of the Liberia National Bar Association that the time for warming is over and it is now time to act. Chief Justice Yuoh revealed that the review committee on the revised Rules of Courts, the code of moral and professional ethics will look at advanced recommendations with the view of bringing instruments to term with current realities to include but not limited to dealing with the interference with judgments of the courts, curbing the wave of unmeritorious suits filed by lawyers and party litigants. This action; she described as the misuse of remedial processes which often times are responsible for the protracted delay in the adjudication of cases or frustrating the execution of judgments in the courts. Chief Justice Yuoh said the Supreme Court will not hesitate to institute measures to curb, if not eradicate, all forms of dilatory tactics of lawyers in all such instances. She assured her unwavering stance on the strict administration of justice in the interest of harmony, peace, stability and economic viability of Liberia. The Chief Justice reacted to President Boakai statement made at the first annual message, that attributed the lack of public trust in the judiciary to the practicing style of some lawyers while expressing her disappointment in the forms and manner in which some lawyers practice their  profession. According to her, their practice is intended to frustrate and delay the enforcement of courts judgments and hinder the administration of justice. “I call upon all Judiciary actors to take judicial notice of an aspect of the annual message of President Boakai, wherein he stated, “Our Justice system which is meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty has been marred by inefficiency, corruption and lack of public trust. I’m counting this honorable body to pass legislation and support financial appropriation that will help us win the fight against corruption,” Chief Justice noted. Chief Justice Yuoh however debunked President Boakai’s statement, saying that the Judiciary is not inefficiency and corrupt; adding that they have dispensed justice without fear or favor. She further said Judiciary Branch of the government, particularly the courts, and keepers of the law, take President Boakai’s statement as a challenge and decisively demonstrates that they are efficient, non-corruptible and trust worthy in dispensing justice without fear or favor. It can be recalled that during the President Boakai annual message to the nation, he stated that the justice system is marred to corruption and has lacked its public trust in the country. President Boakai noted that the justice system which is meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, has been marry by inefficiency, corruption and lack of public trust. ” I am counting on the honorable Legislature body to pass effective legislations and support financial appropriation that will help them win the fight against corruption,” President Boakai  urged. He noted that anyone caught in the act of corruption will face the full weight of the law, with swift and non-discriminatory enforcement. The President indicated that they will fight corruption and build institutions that serve the people’s interests.