By Amos Harris
MONROVIA, Liberia – Liberia’s Chief Justice, His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, launched a full-scale reform campaign and declared “war on corruption” during the official opening of the October Term of Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The high-profile ceremony drew a packed audience, including President Joseph N. Boakai and top officials from all three branches of government, underscoring the national significance of the Chief Justice’s address.
In a powerful and unapologetic speech, Chief Justice Gbeisay vowed to restore integrity and efficiency within Liberia’s justice system, which has long been plagued by allegations of corruption, chronic case delays, and public distrust.
“Corruption must go or corrupt people must go,” he declared firmly, setting an uncompromising tone for what is being hailed as 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 already begun implementing strategic reforms to address longstanding inefficiencies, particularly the crippling 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. Furthermore, Criminal Court “E”, which handles sexual offense cases, has been divided to better manage its staggering caseload, which includes 106 active cases and 190 pretrial detainees. The Chief Justice pointed out that some detainees have been jailed for nearly a decade without trial.
“These delays are not only unjust—they are inhumane,” he stated, emphasizing that prolonged detentions violate citizens’ rights and undermine confidence in the rule of law.
In a major step toward transparency and accountability, Chief Justice Gbeisay announced the creation of a Judicial Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability Unit. This new watchdog body is tasked with aggressively overseeing judges, magistrates, and court staff.
The unit, he said, will conduct unannounced inspections, have full 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.
The Chief Justice also commissioned the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the judiciary’s previous administration. He revealed that a recent Civil Service verification exercise had already uncovered serious financial disorder, including ghost employees and salary irregularities 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 dedicated Family and Children’s Court, which will efficiently handle divorce, child custody, and adoption cases.
On legal education, the Chief Justice hailed the establishment of the Liberian Law School (complementing the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law), praising its recent victory at the ECOWAS Moot Court Competition in Côte d’Ivoire. He described the achievement as a “national win” and 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 are watching with cautious optimism, hopeful that the Chief Justice’s bold declarations will translate into lasting transformation for the country’s justice system.
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