By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmil.com
Monrovia – Liberia’s newly seated Chief Justice, His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, has pledged sweeping reforms and a renewed commitment to accountability, discipline, and integrity in the country’s Judiciary.
He vowed to make the institution a true beacon of hope where justice will be served to all Liberians without fear or favor.
Speaking at his official seating ceremony at the Supreme Court, where he was joined by Associate Justice Boakai Kanneh, Chief Justice Gbeisay promised that under his leadership, justice will be guided strictly by facts, evidence, and the law.
He thanked his colleagues on the Bench for their support and stressed that the work of the Supreme Court is a collective responsibility that requires teamwork and consultation.
Gbeisay emphasized that his administration will place strong emphasis on discipline and performance, warning that judges and court staff who fail to meet their duties will face consequences.
He noted that while many judges have continued to make sacrifices, others treat the role as a part-time job, arriving and leaving at will. “Such attitudes will have no place under our watch,” he declared, vowing to leave behind a legacy of discipline.
The Chief Justice also promised reforms aimed at improving efficiency and transparency. He announced that the Judiciary’s Inspectorate Division will be transformed into a new Monitoring and Evaluation Division to ensure continuous oversight of courts and personnel.
The body will track judges’ performance, analyze case outcomes, and provide data to inform key financial and administrative decisions.
On the welfare of judges, he acknowledged that salaries and benefits remain inadequate and pledged to push for improvements, while insisting that the Judiciary must be treated as a co-equal branch of government in line with the Constitution.
He welcomed the government’s initial implementation of the Financial Autonomy Act, which grants the Judiciary more independence in financial management.
Chief Justice Gbeisay also outlined plans for capacity building, including mandatory refresher training for judges and staff through the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute.
He cautioned against poorly reasoned rulings, urging judges to rely on thorough legal analysis rather than vague phrases.
At the same time, he criticized some lawyers for abusing procedural writs to delay cases, warning that such practices undermine public confidence and would no longer be tolerated.
He pointed to land disputes as one of the greatest challenges facing the courts, describing them as a “nightmare,” and promised to work with the Liberia Land Authority and National Archives to curb fraud.
To tackle corruption, he announced measures including the installation of CCTV cameras in courts, public notices warning against bribery, dedicated phone lines for reporting misconduct, and indemnity bonds for key court officers.
Closing his remarks, Chief Justice Gbeisay reaffirmed his pledge that justice under his leadership will be impartial. “Whether rich or poor, government or citizen, everyone can rest assured of fairness in our courts,” he said.
