The Judicial Branch of the Liberian government is calling on the Executive and Legislature to revisit the 2024 budgetary allocation to the judiciary
The Judiciary wants immediate actions taken to address what they called “Very serious issue.” The Judiciary through the Supreme Court, rejected appropriations in the 2024 fiscal budget.
The Judiciary noticed that the appropriation or allocation of US$17 million and a one-off “contingency amount of US$3 million constituting 2.8% of the National Budget as an imposition by both the Legislature and Executive Branches.
Whilst the Supreme Court acknowledges and upholds the power bestowed upon the Legislature to “Make appropriations for the fiscal governance of the Republic” as enshrined in Article 34(d) of the Liberian Constitution [1986), the court has also upheld the long standing principle of constitutional interpretation which states in part, “the constitution must be interpreted in light of the entire document rather than a sequestrated pronouncement, as every provision of the constitution is of equal importance.
The Supreme Court said none of the provisions of the constitution should be interpreted to nullify or substantially impair the other provisions.
“It is within this legal context that Chapter VIl of the Liberian Constitution [1986] and the supporting statutes within the New Judiciary Law, impose a legal obligation upon the Judiciary Branch to effectively and efficiently manage the Supreme Court of Liberia and all of its administrative units, 22 Circuit Courts across the 15 political subdivisions of this country along with its judges and staff, 75 Specialized Courts across the 15 political subdivisions of this country with their judges and staff as well as 160 Magisterial Courts also across the 15 political subdivisions of this country with their magistrates and staff in order to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails within the borders of our country,” the court added.
According to justices of the High Court, the lack of adequate financial support to the Judiciary by the past and present governments over the years have resulted to deteriorating infrastructure, lack of logistics and worsening conditions of service at the Judiciary.
A release issued on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the Judiciary noted that in the spirit of coordination and cooperation, meetings were held with the leadership of the Legislature and the Presidency prior to the passage of the 2024 budget.
During the meetings, the release indicated that the Judiciary brought to the attention of its co-equal branches of the Liberian Government that the constant violation of the Financial Autonomy Act of the Judiciary Law is consistently relegating an entire branch of government to a mere department under the Executive Branch,
Such act is not only undermining the rule of law in Liberia, but also debasing a co-equal branch of the Government, the release noted.
This, the Judiciary views as unfair, unjust, and an attempt by the other two branches of government to further reduce the Liberian Judiciary to nothing.
