Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine has strongly condemned corruption in Liberia’s legal and political spheres, describing it as desecrating the country’s justice system and governance. While serving as keynote speaker at the Annual National Assembly of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, the former vice-presidential candidate of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) issued a stern warning that corruption not only damages public trust but also threatens the very foundation of law and democracy.
Addressing a gathering of judges, lawyers, lawmakers, civil society actors, and international partners, Brumskine said the law must rise with courage and integrity to restore fairness and accountability in a country where politics has too often overshadowed justice. Referencing former presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah, who both labelled corruption as a vampire and a threat to democracy, Brumskine said the situation has worsened and requires deliberately repositioning the legal community as a front-line defender of accountability.
Brumskine, who is also the daughter of the late Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine said the law remains her passion and strength, distinguishing it from politics, where outcomes are unpredictable. In her view, politics is noisy and chaotic, but the law must be strategic and focused on justice. She invoked the biblical story of Jacob and Esau to illustrate the complex yet inseparable relationship between law and politics in Liberia.
In a speech that resonated with sharp legal and moral undertones, Brumskine warned that corruption in the legal sector is not simply a technical failure but a betrayal of the sacred trust the public places in legal institutions. She said it sends a dangerous message that justice in Liberia can be bought, delayed, or denied, adding that such perception erodes confidence in the courts and weakens the country’s fragile democracy.
She challenged the LNBA to take the lead in changing the culture of impunity by enforcing ethical standards and holding every member of the profession accountable. No lawyer or judge, she stressed, should be above the law they swore to uphold. She urged the Bar to adopt concrete reforms such as peer reviews, strengthened ethics committees, mentorship programs, and mandatory continuing legal education in ethics.
Brumskine called on her colleagues to reflect on how deeply corruption has infiltrated Liberia’s justice institutions and warned that without meaningful action, the country risks institutional collapse. She argued that the law must be the backbone of governance and social justice, rooted in fairness and human dignity.
As she concluded her remarks, Brumskine emphasized that the survival of Liberia’s democracy depends on the integrity of its justice system. She urged her colleagues to speak out against corruption and lead by example in rebuilding public trust. Her speech was a mighty rallying cry for legal professionals to reclaim their role as protectors of justice in Liberia.
Meanwhile, the President of the Liberia National Bar Association, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to justice, human rights, and ethical leadership. He described the annual assembly as a moment of reflection and strategic planning, encouraging members to assess their achievements, confront challenges, and recommit to the rule of law.
Cllr. Varmah urged all legal professionals to embrace their responsibility as guardians of constitutional democracy and defenders of the voiceless. He said the LNBA remains a cornerstone of the country’s legal framework and must lead efforts to ensure that justice is accessible, impartial, and delivered without fear or favor.
The two-day event concluded with renewed calls for transparency, reform, and a collective stand against corruption within the legal sector and beyond.
