Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
One of the reforms demanded by the British memorandum was the
improvement of the judiciary. Here there was indeed real reason for
complaint. Liberia has few well trained lawyers; it was not uncommon for
a man to be appointed judge who had no legal training; there were not
infrequent cases of personal and professional misconduct on the part of
judges. President Barclay, in his message of 1908, a notable document be
it said in passing, says the following: “International attacks upon this
(our judicial system) commenced some years ago, and the movement was
initiated by citizens of the German Empire living in Liberia. But the
crisis has been precipitated by our people. When the editor of the
_African League_, himself an ex-judge, an attorney at law, a citizen,
publishes a special edition of his paper, headed “Startling
Revelations,” in which the judicial system of the country is attacked
both in its personnel as well as on its administrative side, when he
describes himself as a scapegoat and martyr, and when months pass and no
reply to his attack is made by the persons affected, what conclusion, do
you think, can other communities of the world, having business interests
in Liberia, draw?” In his address, _The Impartial Administration of
Justice, the Corner-Stone of a Nation_, Justice T. McCants Stewart says:
“It can not be denied, however, that our judiciary to-day is the object
of serious charges both by foreigners and our own citizens, and they are
charges which demand serious consideration. They can not be brushed
aside. The British Government is not alone in making these charges. Our
own people have made them, and our Chief Executive has declared to the
Legislature that evils exist in our judicial system which must be
speedily remedied if we desire to strengthen ourselves as a nation.
Gentlemen of the Bar: Can we be quiet while our judges are charged both
at home and abroad with: (1) ignorance; (2) excessive use of
intoxicants; (3) the exhibition of prejudice or passion in the trial of
cases; (4) shocking immorality; (5) accepting retainers from private
parties; (6) sharing moneys as a reward for the arrest of criminals; (7)
accepting bribes?” This is specific enough and bad enough. To the credit
of the nation be it said that reforms have seriously been undertaken,
and the present condition of the judiciary is greatly improved. It is
rather interesting that we ourselves at this moment are agitating
against a corrupt judiciary; it is scarcely likely that we are in a
condition for stone-throwing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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