Africa-Press – Liberia. By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia; October 9, 2025 – Liberia’s Chief Justice, Yamie QuiQui Gbeisay, has officially dedicated three newly constructed magisterial courts across Montserrado County, with a resounding caveat, reservation, and mass dismissal threat against magistrates, judges, and judicial staff found in ethical transgressions.
The four Magisterial courts dedicated by the Chief Justice and Associate Justice Yufu D. Kabah include refurbished Paynesville Magisterial Court, valued at ninety thousand United States dollars, and newly constructed Gardnesville and Brewerville Magisterial Courts at a separate amount of Two hundred thirty-four thousand United States dollars, bringing the accumulated amount to Five hundred fifty-eight thousand dollars.
The dedication ceremony was held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the various magisterial courts, with ribbons cut and keys officially turned over by the Court Administrator, Cllr. William B. Kollie, Sr., to Chief Justice Gbeisay, for onward presentation to the presiding magistrate.
Chief Justice Yamie QuiQui Gbeisay warned the magistrates, judges, and judicial workers that there is a new dispensation under his bench on judicial corruption, ethical standards, and commercialization of the courts.
“People are commercializing the Judiciary, making our citizens run away from the court and Justice. This must come to an end. I have just made it for two weeks. I have dismissed and suspended three persons. If you are caught in judicial malpractice and unethical behavior, there will be no mercy. We will investigate every concern cataloged and reported, but we will have no compassion. This is the kind of thing we want to see, standards and ethics.” He stated.
According to him, to ensure that magistrates, judges, and judicial workers adhere to ethical standards, they are establishing a Judicial Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability Committee that will investigate, monitor, and report non-compliant workers for judicial actions.
Chief Justice Gbeisay further indicated that there are forums and ethical committees for judges, magistrates, and lawyers who transgress, but, regrettably, judicial workers don’t have any forum to report unethical behavior.
Therefore, he noted that the new committee will have telephone numbers printed and placed on all courts across the country to report unethical behavior by judicial workers without having to come to the Supreme Court, something he believes will improve compliance, ethical standards, and checks and balances.
Commenting on the Magisterial Courts, Chief Justice Gbeisay expressed appreciation to his predecessor, the late Ex-Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, for his vision, and to President Joseph N. Boakai for his support regarding the acceptance of the Judicial Autonomous Act.
“Mr. Magistrates, we are aware that a good working environment should contribute to your effectiveness and efficiencies. This is a place of Law, the building itself should be a place where the law sits. I can tell you without contradiction that your office is better than the Associate Justice’s, because it was constructed in the 60s. Therefore, we expect the best from you; otherwise, we will take action. No more selling sheets and commercializing the court.” He concluded.
For his part, the Court Administrator, Cllr. William B. Kollie, Sr., welcomed the delegation, disclosing that the court is a result of the Judiciary’s vision to ensure that all magisterial courts are in line with the new design of the court.
” Today, we have come to officially dedicate the Paynesville Magisterial Court, which started about four months ago based upon the mandate we received to modernize and upgrade the court and make it comparable to the new design of the Magisterial Court we are building across the country. We succeeded in executing the contract, and the building is now complete and ready for use. Also, eight months ago, you also again instructed us to construct a new Gardnesville and Brewerville Magisterial courts; today, we are here; these are the courts; you can now have the keys and cut the ribbons and turn them over to the magistrates”, Cllr Kollie said.
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
