Liberia’s Chief Justice, His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, has launched a full-scale reform campaign to clean up the nation’s judiciary, declaring “war on corruption” during the official opening of the October Term of Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The ceremony drew a packed audience of government officials, legal practitioners, foreign dignitaries, and members of the public, with President Joseph N. Boakai and top officials from all three branches of government in attendance.
Chief Justice Gbeisay, in a powerful and unapologetic address, vowed to restore integrity and efficiency within Liberia’s justice system one long plagued by allegations of corruption, case delays, and public distrust.
“Corruption must go or corrupt people must go,” he declared firmly, setting the tone for what many are calling one of the boldest judicial reform agendas in recent memory.
Though only two months into his tenure, the Chief Justice disclosed that his administration has begun implementing strategic reforms to address longstanding inefficiencies, particularly the chronic case backlogs in the Commercial and Criminal Courts.
He revealed that the Commercial Court now operates with two active courtrooms to align with its three-judge structure, while Criminal Court “E”, which handles sexual offense cases, has been divided to better manage its staggering caseload.
Including 106 active cases and 190 pretrial detainees, some of whom have been jailed for nearly a decade without trial.
“These delays are not only unjust they are inhumane,” the Chief Justice stated, emphasizing that prolonged detentions violate the rights of citizens and undermine confidence in the rule of law
In a major step toward transparency, Chief Justice Gbeisay announced the creation of a Judicial Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability Unit a watchdog body tasked with overseeing judges, magistrates, and court staff.
The unit, he said, will conduct unannounced inspections, have access to court records, and be empowered to gather photographic and audio evidence where necessary.
“Let it be clear this unit is not for show. It is our internal police, and it means business,” he asserted to resounding applause.
Chief Justice Gbeisay also commissioned the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the judiciary’s previous administration.
A Civil Service verification exercise, he revealed, has already uncovered ghost employees and salary irregularities, including instances where lower-ranking staff earned more than their superiors.
He pledged to immediately correct these discrepancies and ensure that staff beyond retirement age are properly retired by the end of the year.
“This kind of favoritism and financial disorder has no place in a judiciary striving for excellence,” he said.
Chief Justice Gbeisay lauded President Boakai for increasing the judiciary’s 2025 budget and adhering to the long-ignored Judicial Financial Autonomy Act, a move he said is vital for true judicial independence.
He further announced collaboration with the Executive and Legislature to establish a Family and Children’s Court, which will handle divorce, child custody, and adoption cases more efficiently.
On the issue of legal education, the Chief Justice hailed the establishment of the Liberian Law School, a new legal institution complementing the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law.
He praised its recent victory at the ECOWAS Moot Court Competition in Côte d’Ivoire, describing the achievement as a “national win” for Liberia’s legal system.
“This is a win not just for the new school, but for all of Liberia,” he said, calling it a reflection of the judiciary’s new era of excellence.
In his closing remarks, Chief Justice Gbeisay appealed to President Boakai to prioritize the construction of a modern Supreme Court complex, which he said would stand as a symbol of national commitment to justice and democratic governance.
“Since we have not done enough, we need not say much,” he concluded humbly, earning a standing ovation from the audience.
Many within the legal community and the public are watching with cautious optimism hopeful that Chief Justice Gbeisay’s bold declarations will translate into lasting transformation for one of the country’s most critical institutions. By Amos Harris
