MONROVIA – Prison Courtroom “B” Choose Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, Sr. has vowed that courts below his gavel will aggressively push for the well timed trial or launch of pretrial detainees through the August A.D. 2025 Time period, warning that extended detention with out trial violates Liberia’s Structure.
Delivering his formal cost on the opening of the August Time period on Monday, Choose Wesseh declared that “the courtroom shall proceed to be the final hope for mankind on earth,” and pledged that justice could be allotted “with out concern or favor.”
Citing Article 20(a) of the 1986 Structure, he mentioned judges won’t hesitate to free accused individuals—whether or not charged with severe or minor offenses—if prosecutors fail to indict or attempt them inside statutory limits and can’t present good trigger for continued detention.
As of July 31, 2025, Liberia’s jail inhabitants stood at 2,181 pretrial detainees and 1,159 convicts. Choose Wesseh described circumstances within the amenities as “appalling” and backed incoming Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr.’s name for a brand new nationwide jail to ease congestion on the Zwedru Palace of Correction and different detention facilities.
He additionally referred to as on the Liberia Nationwide Bar Affiliation to strengthen its authorized support program to raised characterize detainees, and urged magistrates to make use of different measures, comparable to releasing defendants below supervision, to cut back pointless incarceration.
Choose Wesseh lamented a decline in trial expertise amongst some prosecutors and public defenders in rural counties, urging the Ministry of Justice and Public Protection Workplace to implement common coaching to enhance courtroom follow and case administration.
Reward for New Chief Justice and Judicial Imaginative and prescient
The opening ceremony additionally paid tribute to outgoing Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh for her “transformative initiatives” and expressed confidence that Justice Gbeisay will proceed her five-year growth plan for judicial infrastructure.
Choose Wesseh prolonged gratitude to President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr. for nominating His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr. as the brand new Chief Justice of the Supreme Courtroom of Liberia. The choose praised the choice to pick a nominee from throughout the ranks of the judiciary, stating that the Liberian Judiciary is “finest served when a Justice is nominated from the bench.”
He expressed hope that the incoming Chief Justice would proceed the five-year growth plans initiated by former Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh.
These plans embody the development of a brand new Temple of Justice and new judicial complexes in counties at the moment with out functioning courtroom buildings, in addition to the development of further magisterial courts nationwide.
Prioritizing Pretrial Detention Instances
Choose Wesseh concluded with a stern warning to potential jurors to take their civic duties significantly, pledging to punish misconduct, and ordered that the courtroom premises stay clear always.
Deplorable Jail Circumstances Highlighted
Choose Wesseh revealed that as of July 31, 2025, there have been 2,181 pretrial detainees and 1,159 sentenced inmates nationwide. Whereas noting these figures might sound low in comparison with neighboring international locations, he burdened that the “obnoxious jail circumstances” and “dilapidated and unsaved constructions” create an insufferable atmosphere for inmates.
He joined the brand new Chief Justice in calling on the Ministry of Justice to assemble a brand new nationwide jail facility to assist decongest overwhelmed detention facilities, notably the Nationwide Palace of Correction in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. Wesseh warned that failing to deal with these points may weaken the legal justice system and highlighted the constitutional prohibition of “torture or inhumane therapy” outlined in Article 21(e).
Addressing Considerations for the Bar and Jurors
Choose Wesseh additionally expressed issues concerning the skilled requirements of some newer attorneys, notably prosecutors and public protection attorneys. He famous a decline in courtroom expertise and trial methods in comparison with a decade in the past and referred to as on the Ministry of Justice and the Workplace of the Public Protection to implement steady coaching packages. He clarified that his observations weren’t meant to solid doubt on attorneys however to emphasise the necessity for ongoing authorized schooling to take care of judicial requirements.
He additionally addressed potential jurors, calling on them to be “studious and dedicated to your civil duties.” He warned that any juror failing to attend courtroom periods with out authentic cause could be topic to penalties, together with jail time.
The choose concluded by calling for a clear courtroom atmosphere and warned that anybody littering on courtroom premises could be prosecuted. With these remarks, Choose Wesseh formally declared the Prison Assizes Courts A, B, C, D, and E of the first Judicial Circuit, Montserrado County, open for the August Time period A.D. 2025.
