(LINA) – The Supreme Court of Liberia has reserved ruling in two post-election cases brought before it on appeals.
The court could not deliver a ruling in the case involving a complaint of the violation of the high court’s mandate involving former Representative Garrison Yealue and Gorpue Kargon.
The other case was filed by a Representative candidate in the recently held elections, Susannah Lorpu Mator, against the National Elections Commission in which she cited fraud and irregularities in the recount of ballots in Bong County District #4.
Of the 246 cases on the docket of the high court, it announced that the Bench would hear 17 cases on Tuesday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 28, respectively.
Of the nine cases schedule for Tuesday, March 27, the first case called was that of Messrs. Yealue and Kargon in which the Bill of Information and the appeal were consolidated due to the similarities in the matter which the court said was to manage time.
The Supreme Court had mandated the NEC to resume jurisdiction over the case and ensure a re-examination of the raw data sheet.
For her part, candidate Mator alleged that at the close of the polls on October 10 there were irregularities and malpractice carried out by poll representatives of behalf of her contender.
There was a recount conducted but the result of the recount was disallowing leading to the acquisition of an appeal.
Meanwhile, the Supreme has rescheduled all other cases assigned for Tuesday to a later date.
In a related development, the Supreme Court of Liberia says it is not Partial In Hearing Cases’, Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor has refuted claims by some members of the Supreme Court Bar alleging that the high court has placed top of its docket several cases relating to bank disputes.
It is not clear as to how many of the 246 cases on the docket of the high court are bank-related disputes, but cases on the docket of the court remains a total of 246, out of which 17 were assigned for hearing on Tuesday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 28, respectively.
Speaking Tuesday at the first day sitting of the March Term of Court, Justice Korkpor clarified that as a matter of procedure, the court hears cases on a first come first serve basis rather than prioritizing a particular case above the others.
“Whatever we said was taking out of context,” Korkpor explained, describing the assertion in some local dailies that the high court had said it would first hear and dispose of bank-related cases before others as “a misrepresentation of the facts.”
He wants counselors to exert effort in filling their briefs which, he said, will ensure the assignment of their case.
“If you do not believe that your case will be treated on a first come first serve basis, put us to a test by filling early and see if your case will not be heard,” Korkpor noted.
It can be recalled that on March 12 at ceremonies marking the official opening of the March 2018 Term of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Korkpor concluded his opening address by urging all counselors having a case before the court to submit filling so as to have their case or cases heard.
Contrary to this plea, some members of the bar are said to not be honoring the court’s plea, while others have taken to the media to inappropriately accuse the high court of misdeeds.
Source: Liberia News Agency
Comments are closed.