“The building’s structural integrity has significantly deteriorated, making the construction of a new Supreme Court facility an urgent necessity to reduce overcrowding and prevent potential hazards,” Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh emphasized.
Chief Justice Yuoh raised this alarm on Monday, October 14, 2024, while giving her opening address at the official opening of the October Term of Court. The Liberian Chief Justice stressed the severity of the crumbling building and the urgency to construct a new Supreme Court Complex.
“With this in mind, we have designed a new Supreme Court building to be erected on these premises,” she stated.
She emphasized that the current structure of the Supreme Court was originally constructed and dedicated in 1968 to accommodate approximately 300 staff members and court users.
Justice Yuoh lamented that since then, the building now host over 2,000 people, including judiciary staff and the public, with no major renovations being carried out.
Chief Justice Yuoh informed the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), and international partners who were in attendance during the court opening that the infrastructural challenges of the judiciary is not only limited to the Temple of Justice, but also to seven other Judicial Circuits and almost all of the Magisterial Courts within the Country.
Justice Yuoh also highlighted the deteriorating states of some of the circuit and magisterial courts, where the public expects judges and magistrates to deliver quality services.
“In such deplorable conditions, one must question the government’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening the rule of law in Liberia. It’s important to note that while the legislature is responsible for establishing courts and Executive for appointing magistrates, judges, and justices, their efforts fall short without adequate budgetary court appropriations to the judiciary for adequate and efficient regulation of the judicial process,” she noted.
Justice Yuoh said the Supreme Court Bench responsible for administering the practice of law in Liberia and the custodian of the law have not lost hope in the future of the country.
“This is why our vision for a transformed Judiciary, as captured in our Strategic Plan, is to construct Judicial Complexes in the remaining circuits and at least twenty (20) Magisterial Courts as a start, over the next five years,” she asserted.
The Liberia Chief Justice disclosed that the Government of Liberia has agreed to construct the first of the seven Circuit Court complexes in Maryland County, stressing that funds have been allotted for the construction of works to begin within the next 90 days.
According to her, significant steps have been taken for the acquisition of suitable land space in the 12th Judicial Circuit, Grand Kru County, 13th Judicial Circuit, Margibi County and the 15th Judicial Circuit of RiverGee County.
Justice Yuoh also revealed that there have been efforts toward securing suitable land space, a minimum of 5 acres each in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, Grand Bassa County, 5th Judicial Circuit, Grand Cape Mount County and the 10th Judicial Circuit of Lofa County for the construction of Judicial Complexes.
“The Bench will not cease to assiduously remind His Excellency, President Boakai and members of the fifty-fifth Legislature that the need for Judicial Complexes in all the political subdivision of Liberia should be prioritized,” she stated.
