Liberia: Senator Dillon Takes Issue with Chief Justice Gbeisey over Proposal to Dissolve Jury Trail

Senator Abraham Darius Dillon MONROVIA – Montserrado county Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has taken issue with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay over his latest call for the dissolution of a jury trial in the justice system of Liberia. By Obediah Johnson Speaking at the opening of the October Term of court at the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12, Chief Justice Gbeisay proposed ending the jury trial system, pointing to persistent allegations of jury tampering, bribery, and corruption. He emphasized that interference with jurors undermines fair trials, slows down justice, increases costs, and erodes public confidence in the judiciary. He further cited several instances of reported and proven jury tampering, and urged the Legislature to consider appropriate measures that would lead to the dissolution of the system.

But in a statement released on his official Facebook page in Monrovia on Monday, October 12, Senator Dillon disagreed with Chief Justice Gbeisay’s proposal for the dissolution of the jury trial system. He recalled that the fundamental right to trial by jury is “constitutionally instructive”, as provided in Article 20 (a) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution states that: “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law. Justice shall be done without sale, denial or delay; and in all cases not arising in courts not of record, under courts-martial and upon impeachment, the parties shall have the right to trial by jury. ” He added that to “dissolve” or do away with this…