Verity News has observed that Monrovia Traffic Court Judge Karsor Zubah’s recent Facebook post, advertising a business, runs contrary to Liberia Judicial Canon Six Law.
In his Facebook post dated June 28, Judge Zubah stated: “I am selling iPhones at the following prices: 1. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB USD 1,200.00 2. Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB USD 1,000.00, 3. Apple iPhone 15 Plus 128GB USD 900.00, 4. Apple iPhone 15 128GB USD 800.00. Rush now and put your order in, the quality is little in storage. You can contact me or inbox me on Messenger,”
According to Judicial Canon Six, titled “Judge as Government Paid Official,” the judge is a government-paid official and must be paid adequately; he holds an exalted position which prevents him from engaging in any business pursuits.
The Canon states: “The judge must be provided with the necessities of life and every means to perform his judicial duties effectively, efficiently, and speedily. The judge must be encouraged and given the incentive to live a decent and dignified life that would prevent financial and domestic worries and enable him to repel temptation which is susceptible to human life. As a priest of justice, a judge should not be given the cause to be corrupted in the performance of his judicial duties to be justified for any disciplinary action taken against him if found deficient in those qualities.”
A senior member of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), who chose to remain anonymous, noted that a judge must not engage in any form of business within the context of Liberian law.
The source emphasized that while the law prevents judges from engaging in any form of business, there is room for interpretation regarding the type of business under Liberian law.
“That’s the rationale why the benefits prescribed for the judge should be decided by the legislature, to prevent them from participating in any form of business. Nevertheless, Judicial Canon Six is subject to interpretation because businesses should be registered and organized in the context of the law,” he added.
Notwithstanding, the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) senior official said such a post made by a judge is considered an informal business under the law.
Verity News has researched the definition of business as “the practice of making one’s living or making money by producing or buying and selling products, such as goods and services.” It is also defined as “any activity or enterprise entered into for profit.”
The latest Facebook post by Monrovia Traffic Court Judge Kassor Zubah has raised serious concerns in the public space about judges’ adherence to the rule of law.
Recently, Judge Zubah was accused of authorizing the release and sale of a white Toyota Land Cruiser jeep to one Albertine Yancy belonging to a defendant.
Cllr. James Nyenpan, one of the counsels for Jessica Lloyd in the attempted murder trial involving Lucas Richards at the Criminal Court “B”, alleged that Judge Zubah, on April 2, authorized the release and sale of a white Toyota Land Cruiser jeep to one Albertine Yancy.
The vehicle in question was to be used as a part of pieces of evidence in the case since it was allowed that when Richards reportedly had an accident, he absconded with the vehicle and was later arrested and parked at the St. Paul Bridge Depot.
Cllr. Nyenpan argued, that said vehicle was and had never been involved in a motor accident for which it was packed at the St. Paul Bridge Police Station when it should have been under the jurisdiction of the Traffic Court of Montserrado, for which he has filed a Petition for Summary Proceeding against Judge Zubah.
According to Cllr. Nyenpan, he received a call on April 15, from an employee of the Ministry of Transport, that the vehicle that became a fruit of crimes, which was packed at the St. Paul Bridge Police Station, which was attempted to be registered by one Yancy, following an authorization and sale order from Judge Zubah.
As a result, Cllr. Nyenpan prayed Judge Dixon to order Judge Zubah to retrieve and surrender said vehicle as per his order of release and sale of the vehicle which matter is still pending at the criminal Court “B”.
Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge, Blamo Dixon, cited Monrovia Traffic Court Judge Karsor Zubah about the Petitioner for Summary Proceedings filed by Cllr. Nyenpan of the Ministry of Justice in Association with Legal Watch INC.
The citation Is quoted as saying: “By directive of Blamo Dixon, Resident Circuit Court Judge hereby cites you, Judge Zubah into the judge’s Chambers on Wednesday, April 17, at 2:pm to probe a petition for summary proceedings filed against you.”
By: G. Watson Richards
