MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has suspended Civil Law Court Resident Judge Kennedy Peabody for six months without pay, fined him $2,115.40, and ordered him to appear for a public reprimand. The unanimous ruling cited multiple violations of judicial ethics, underscoring the court’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judiciary.
The high court fully adopted the findings of the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC), which determined that Judge Peabody had breached Judicial Canons 12, 28, and 35. These canons prohibit judges from accepting gifts or favors from parties with interests before the court and from engaging in activities that could compromise their impartiality.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Prince Kanneh. He accused Peabody of attempting to illegally seize control of 29 lots of land near the RIA Highway, which belonged to Lebanese businessman Bassam Jawhary. Kanneh alleged that while serving as a magistrate at the Paynesville Magisterial Court, Peabody had ruled in Jawhary’s favor in a land dispute and subsequently received half of the disputed property—14.5 lots—as a gift. Kanneh claimed he had been appointed by Jawhary to oversee the property on behalf of Momentum Engineering Group Inc., but that Peabody had used threats and judicial influence to claim ownership.
Justice Ceaineh Clinton Johnson, who read the court’s judgment, stated that Peabody’s actions created “reasonable suspicion” that his private dealings had influenced his judicial conduct. The ruling concluded: “We therefore hold that Peabody exhibited unethical conducts that warrant punishment, hence, we hereby affirmed both the JIC’s Report and that of the amici curiae’s recommendation with modification, that he be suspended without salaries and benefits for the period of six (6) months as of this Judgment.”
Peabody denied the allegations, insisting he had never presided over a case involving Jawhary and that his claim to the land was based on a legitimate deed from the administrators of an estate. He also challenged Kanneh’s authority as a caretaker of the property, arguing that it was Kanneh, not him, who had improperly sold portions of the land to others.
Despite his defense, the Supreme Court concluded that Judge Peabody failed to uphold the ethical standards required of the judiciary and that sanctions were necessary to preserve public confidence in the courts. The suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in place until February 2026.
Comments are closed.