River Gee County | Nov. 10, 2026 | The dedication of the newly constructed 15th Judicial Circuit Court Quick Impact Facility in River Gee County has sparked strong criticism, with the President of the River Gee Bar Association, Cllr. Dennes Sokan, openly challenging the Judiciary of Liberia over what she described as an inadequate, uncomfortable, and poorly equipped judicial facility.
The newly constructed 15th Judicial Circuit Court facility in River Gee County comprises a relatively small courtroom, three modestly sized offices, three bathrooms, and a front porch.
Speaking on November 9, 2026, during the dedication ceremony and formal opening of the November AD Term of Court, Cllr. Sokan expressed disappointment over the condition and limited facilities of the newly dedicated building, arguing that it falls short of the minimum infrastructure required for the effective administration of justice.
In unusually strong remarks, the Bar Association President described the facility as a “complete trash,” questioning how a court expected to administer justice could operate without several essential offices and functional spaces.
According to Cllr. Sokan, despite the Judiciary’s decision to construct and dedicate a new facility, critical components necessary for the smooth operation of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court remain missing.
Among the major shortcomings she identified are the absence of a dedicated jurors’ room, offices for the County Attorney and Public Defender, a properly equipped court records room, and an office for the Sheriff.
She further raised concerns about the uncomfortable working environment, particularly excessive heat and insufficient space for judicial personnel, lawyers, jurors, and other stakeholders.
“This is complete trash. If I were the assigned judge for this November AD Term of Court, we would do business here because this does not represent River Gee County and its people. Even a magisterial court in Montserrado County is better than this,” Cllr. Sokan reportedly declared.
The River Gee Bar Association President also questioned what she perceived as unequal attention to judicial infrastructure across the country, emphasizing that residents of River Gee deserve judicial facilities comparable to those being constructed in other counties.
“We Geepo votes cannot make a person win a presidency, but we all have the same right to these judicial complexes you are constructing in other counties, like Lofa, Maryland, and others,” she added.
Her comments have reignited conversations about regional equality, public infrastructure, and the responsibility of the national government to ensure that citizens outside Monrovia have access to adequate public institutions.
Responding to the concerns raised, Supreme Court Associate Justice Yousuf D. Kaba, who led the Judiciary’s delegation to River Gee County for the ceremony, acknowledged that the newly dedicated facility has space limitations.
However, Justice Kaba clarified that the building was intended as a temporary court facility rather than the permanent judicial complex River Gee County needs.
According to him, the Judiciary recognized the need to provide the 15th Judicial Circuit Court with a dedicated place of operation after the court had been conducting its proceedings in a privately owned building.
Justice Kaba further disclosed that the Quick Impact Facility was not supported by a specific budgetary allocation for the 15th Judicial Circuit Court, but was provided through the initiative of the Chief Justice to address the court’s immediate accommodation challenges.
“There is no specific budget for this 15th Judicial Circuit Court Quick Impact Facility. But the Chief Justice saw the need to give the court its own shelter since it has been operating in a private building,” Justice Kaba explained.
He assured residents and judicial stakeholders that plans for a permanent judicial complex remain active and that construction is expected to commence soon.
Justice Kaba emphasized that the dedication of the temporary facility does not mean the Judiciary has abandoned its commitment to constructing a modern judicial complex in River Gee County.
However, for little over four years, the 15th Judicial Circuit Court has been operating under a rented facility in the county.
Meanwhile, the November 9 ceremony featured two major judicial activities: the formal induction of newly appointed and confirmed Resident Judge His Honour Nelson B. Chineh and the dedication of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court Quick Impact Facility, located outside Fish-Town, the county capital.
While the dedication represents an effort to provide the county’s judicial system with a dedicated operational space, the concerns raised by the River Gee Bar Association President have placed the quality, adequacy, and long-term sustainability of judicial infrastructure under public scrutiny.
For many judicial stakeholders, the availability of a court building alone is not sufficient, but proper offices, comfortable working conditions, adequate records storage, and appropriate facilities for jurors and legal practitioners are also essential to the effective administration of justice.
