The Judiciary Branch of Liberia has announced plans to provide public defenders with 15 vehicles, 35 motorbikes, laptops and salary increases to help them travel to courts across the country and better represent people who cannot afford private lawyers.
Court Administrator Cllr. William B. Kollie announced the plan on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during a training organized by the James A. A. Pierre Institute of the Judiciary in Gompa City, Nimba County.
Kollie said the plan follows Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr.’s vision to improve the work of the Judiciary and address some of the difficulties public defenders face in carrying out their duties.
He said public defenders often struggle to travel to judicial circuits and magisterial courts, making it difficult to provide legal assistance to people who cannot afford to hire lawyers.
Kollie urged the participants to take the training seriously, reminding them that their work is an important part of the justice system.
Cllr. Moses S. Soribah, executive director of the James A. A. Pierre Institute, also urged public defenders to handle every case with care and professionalism.
He said the Supreme Court established the National Public Defenders Office to ensure that people accused of crimes who cannot afford private lawyers have access to legal representation.
Soribah reminded the lawyers to challenge evidence when necessary, identify violations of their clients’ constitutional rights and seek justice through the proper legal procedures.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Bestman D. Juah, national coordinator and president of the Public Defense Program, thanked Chief Justice Gbeisay for making the quarterly training possible.
Juah said the training would help public defenders improve their knowledge and better serve people who depend on them for legal representation.
He acknowledged that public defenders work under difficult conditions, including heavy caseloads, limited resources and public criticism of the people they represent.
He encouraged the lawyers not to lose sight of their responsibility to their clients, noting that every case involves a human being, a family and a story that deserves to be heard fairly.
Juah urged the public defenders to remain committed to their work and treat every client with dignity, regardless of the allegations against them.
The planned support is expected to help public defenders reach courts across Liberia and carry out their duties more effectively. However, the Judiciary has not announced when the vehicles, motorbikes and laptops will be delivered or when the salary increases will take effect.
