The outgoing Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, appeared to have aimed at public members and politicians who frequently criticize their decisions, especially in high-profile cases, emphasizing that their role is not to please any parties appearing before them but to interpret the law.
Chief Justice Yuoh made these remarks during her final opening address on March 10, 2025, in the Supreme Court Chamber at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
Throughout her years of service on the Bench, first as an Associate Justice and now as Chief Justice, she stated, “my colleagues and I have remained steadfast in our commitment to our primary duty: hearing and deciding cases in a fair and impartial manner.”
In her concluding speech, Chief Justice Yuoh acknowledged that their opinions had met with criticism, often referred to as biased and unfair, especially in cases involving political figures. “But I must remind us all that it is not our duty or responsibility to satisfy the interests of parties that come before the court or even to like them,” she insisted.
She elaborated that the Bench is required by law to make decisions based not on emotions or morals, but on the law itself, as it relates to the facts and circumstances of each case. “We remain resolute in our dedication to upholding the rule of law, regardless of external pressures,” she affirmed.
Chief Justice Yuoh further stated that they are often tasked with making difficult and controversial decisions on high-profile cases. “We are acutely aware of the gravity and far-reaching impact of our rulings, as the Court of last resort, from which there is no appeal. I extend my deepest sympathy to those who may feel aggrieved or dissatisfied with our decisions,” she added, noting that it is the nature of justice that not everyone will agree. “However, it is through the consistent application of the law that we safeguard the integrity of the judicial system,” the Chief Justice lamented.
She explained that in their deliberations, they rely solely on the law, using the Constitution as the highest authority that guides not only the conduct of citizens and foreign nationals within the country, but also the behavior of the government and its officials.
Since her tenure as Chief Justice began, she and her colleagues have made a concerted effort to reduce the number of cases pending in the Supreme Court. As a result, there has been a steady increase in the number of cases heard and decided from the March Term of 2022 to the present.
In her update on the statistics, she reported that 41 cases were resolved in the March Term of 2022; 50 cases in the October Term of 2022; 51 cases in the March Term of 2023; 47 cases in the March Term of 2024; and 16 cases in the October Term of 2024.
Moreover, the Chief Justice mentioned that they have implemented measures to prevent the backlog of Bills of Information from overwhelming the court’s docket by reviewing each Bill of Information filed to assess its merit before issuing a writ. She noted that this represents a significant shift from the past practice, where every Bill of Information was scheduled for a hearing, regardless of its merit.
By T.Q. Lula Jaurey
