By Festus Poquie
President Joseph Boakai Monday used the opening of the October Term of the Supreme Court to draw a direct line between a trustworthy judiciary and the social and economic development of Liberia, urging sweeping reforms to restore public confidence and attract investment.
Addressing the nation from the Temple of Justice, Boakai congratulated newly seated Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay and Associate Justice Boakai Kanneh, praising their potential to energize reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law.
He framed the Judiciary as “the ultimate guardian of liberty and fairness,” arguing that when courts are impartial and accessible “democracy flourishes” and citizens grow to trust state institutions.
The President acknowledged longstanding public concerns — slow trials, opaque proceedings and perceptions that justice can be influenced by status or money — and called for “urgent, courageous, and genuine reform.”
He endorsed the Chief Justice’s stated priorities to modernize court administration, improve case management, strengthen judicial integrity, and decentralize justice delivery so Liberians do not have to travel long distances to seek redress.
Linking justice to development, Boakai said his administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development places the Rule of Law at its core. “A nation cannot progress where laws are ignored, where contracts are broken, or where the weak have no recourse,” he warned, noting that predictable processes and consistent enforcement are prerequisites for investor confidence and sustainable growth.
At the same time, the President reaffirmed his commitment to defending judicial independence. He pledged executive support for better training, facilities and logistics for the courts, while encouraging closer collaboration between the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Bar Association to build a more efficient and trusted justice system.
Boakai also issued a pointed call to duty for legal actors and citizens alike. To judges he said the judicial robe is “not a symbol of privilege but of service,” urging decisions guided by “truth and conscience.” He told lawyers to let “ethics and professionalism guide your advocacy,” and appealed to the public to make fairness and compassion part of daily life, stressing that justice is a culture as well as an institutional function.
