BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR / shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY — The Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Nimba County has recorded the total of 192 cases on its trial docket — including 46 criminal cases, and 146 civil cases dated far-back-as 2017 for the August Term, A.D. 2025. During the formal opening ceremony of the August Term, A.D. 2025 on Monday, the Court’s Trial Docket overwhelmed caseloads sparked mixed reactions among judicial actors and the public (jury) — raising question on how many of these cases will be disposed of within fourty-two days of court period.
Delivering his charge, the Relieving Judge of Liberia, Nelson B. Chineh, now-assigned to preside over the August Term at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie reviewed the just — ended May Term of Court records, indicating that 206 cases were docketed — 47 criminal, and 159 civil cases but at the end of the term, eight (8) cases were disposed of without reaching 10% of the docket.
Judge Nelson B. Chineh’s observation on courts’ trial docket overburdened with cases triggered him to deliver a worded charge centering on “The Role of Judicial Actors in Restoring Public Confidence in the Liberian Judiciary.” In his charge, Judge Chineh did not sugar quote words to blast legal actors’ refusal to ensure public confidence, speedy and impartial justice for people — stemming from overcrowded cases on courts trial docket.
Judge Chineh emphasized the courts inability to dispose of pending cases within time as one of those major factors affecting the integrity of the Liberian Judicial System. The Relieving Judge said nearly all of the courts in Liberia are overwhelmed with overcrowdedness of their trial docket — the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court which is of no exception with high increment during, and after terms of court in years under review.
Judge Chineh stated it is not a secret that trial dockets of courts in the country are overcrowded with caseloads — noting that the pace at which cases are processed is overly slow. “Generally, it is a well known facts that trial dockets of courts are overcrowded. You will agree with me that the pace at which cases are processed is overly slow,” the Relieving Judge asserted.
Judge Chineh lashed on the unnecessary delay of cases in court by party litigants cause by their lawyers who appear before courts for unjustifiable reason that may bring the court to public disrepute. “Nearly all of the criminal cases on the docket are required to be heard by jury and must be heard by jury, except where the defendant so elect to waive that right for his or her case to be tried by jury,” he said.
According to him, the unnecessary delay of cases by party litigants without any sufficient and or compelling reasons is adverse to the principle of rule of law and access to justice in Nimba County. “The statute also forbids the conduct of more than one jury trial for criminal or civil case at a time; and that the parties or lawyers have the right to pray or request court for continuance, for good cause,” Judge Chineh noted.
He cautioned people who are aggrieved to come to court and seek justice, which he noted is the tenant of democracy and as such it must be accorded with immediate and prudent intervention, if the society will trust and obey the judiciary system and legal litigation processes. “Considering these restrictions as contained in the statute controlling, the trial docket is bound to remain overcrowded. And once the party litigants cases are not heard in time it works negatively against the Judiciary,” Judge Chineh said.
He than warned lawyers and magistrates to uphold the principles of rule of law — emphasized the importance of ethical and moral standards of lawyers before court at all times as provided under various provisions of the code of moral and professional ethics of lawyers.
“I therefore recommend that a review or amendment of our procedural law be taken into serious consideration,” he added.
Relieving Judge Chineh highlighted lawyers duty to the court — that of their moral standing and duty to their clients. He added that it’s significant that every Liberian citizens, regardless of status to be accorded the principles of justice — adding that respecting the rule of law can not only preserve the integrity of the justice system but ensures the protection and rights for every individual.
In an effort to restore public confidence and trust in the Liberian Judiciary, Judge Nelson B. Chineh charged judicial actors to always commit themselves to do exactly that which the law requires them to do.
“How can we speak of restoring public confidence in the Liberian Judiciary when we, who are judicial officers do not know exactly what the laws required of us to do,” Judge Chineh questioned lawyers.
Judge Chineh disclosed that over the years, the integrity of the Judiciary has been ruined, stressing that public confidence in the judiciary has been deranged due to all forms of judicial manipulations, interference, and corruption. He further noted that restoring public confidence and trust in the Liberian Judiciary requires the efforts of all judicial actors — including judges, practicing lawyers, clerical staff, ministerial officers, the press and members of the general public (jury).
Judge Chineh emphasized that the manner and form in which each of these justice actors acts in discharging their respective task — exercised the sense of neutrality will continue to positively or negatively impact public confidence in the court system of Liberia. Judge Chineh highlighted the pivotal role of the media, that the press holds a duty to keep the public inform on happening within the country — including Judiciary.
In a five page charge delivered, Relieving Judge Nelson B. Chineh commit to work with Judicial Reporters — support their reportage for up to date happenings during the August Term, A.D. 2025. He said his doors are open to enable the media to verify story prior to reporting, except the merit of the case will not be discussed once the case is pending determination.
“Misinformation has the propensity to cause chaos, therefore, it should be discouraged. We all, to include members of the Press have the to keep the peace of the nation, Liberia,” His Honor, Nelson B. Chineh delivered his charge at the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie, Nimba County. Inline with the mandate of Her Honor, Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, outgoing Chief Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, Judge Nelson B. Chineh, the Relieving Judge assigned at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court and Judge Musa S. Sidibey, the Resident Circuit Judge of the Sexual Offenses Court in Sanniquellie will preside over the August 2025 Term of Court.
The attendees at the formal opening ceremony on Monday included legal luminaries, party litigants, partners of the Justice System, Officials of Government, Judges of courts of record and courts not of record, members of the Nimba County Bar Association (NBA), and the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), other judicial actors, Nimba County Superintendent, chiefs, elders, jury verniers, and others. In response to the judge’s charge, the Ministry of Justice through the County Attorney of Nimba, Cllr. John D. Miah outlined challenges in prosecuting — including party litigants or complainants failure to appear in court to testify.
Cllr. Miah said the backlog of caseloads on the Court’s Trial Docket is as the result lack of communication in relocating victims, and witnesses due to change in previous residential address. For her part, Nimba County Superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono acknowledged the Judiciary’s efforts in dispensation of justice for all — pledging her administration’s full commitment to swiftly intervene and find remedy to the judicial issue at stake.
