Speaking on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the opening of the October Term of the Supreme Court of Liberia, President Joseph Boakai emphasized that the judiciary plays a crucial role in safeguarding democracy. According to Boakai, the governance system is built on three separate but coordinated branches: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. Each branch has its own mandate, yet all share a sacred obligation to serve the Liberian people with integrity, fairness, and respect for the law.
The President explained that the judiciary serves as the ultimate guardian of liberty and fairness. He stated, “It is the judiciary that every Liberian, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, must rely on for protection and justice.” He noted, “When justice is blind to status and remains unbiased and fair in its rulings, the people grow to trust their institutions, and democracy flourishes.”
Boakai recalled an African proverb: “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” He highlighted that justice, integrity, and order must start at the core of institutions. He asserted that if the courts are strong, the nation will thrive; if they are weak, the foundation of democracy will not endure.
Addressing the need for reforms and restoring confidence in the judiciary, the President acknowledged that citizens have expressed concerns about the slow pace of trials, lack of transparency in proceedings, and the perception that justice can be influenced. He asserted that these concerns are legitimate and call for urgent, courageous, and genuine reform.
“I am encouraged by the Chief Justice’s vision to modernize court administration, improve case management, strengthen judicial integrity, and decentralize justice delivery so that no Liberian has to travel long distances to seek fairness,” he noted. President Boakai reaffirmed his commitment to supporting an independent judiciary while improving the conditions under which judges and magistrates work. “We will also encourage stronger collaboration between the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, and the Liberia National Bar Association, all in pursuit of a more efficient and trusted justice system,” he told the justices, lawyers, and judges in attendance.
Furthermore, the President revealed that as his government pursues the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, with Pillar 3 focusing on the Rule of Law, the judiciary must remember that justice and development are inseparable. He stated that investors will only come where processes are predictable, the law is clear and respected, and citizens will adhere to laws that are fair and consistently enforced. “Our collective effort to reform and strengthen the judiciary is therefore part of a larger mission to build a Liberia that is just, peaceful, and prosperous,” he concluded.
