Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott Chastise LNBA President in Law Day Celebration Address

Monrovia, Liberia: In a powerful keynote address marking the observance of Law Day, former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott issued a pointed rebuke to the President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), sharply criticizing his recent public condemnation of a Supreme Court ruling on the Bill of Information filed by House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa.

Delivering her remarks at the International Law Day ceremony held at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Cllr. Scott expressed deep concern over what she described as a troubling shift within the legal profession—particularly the politicization of the Bar Association and its perceived undermining of the judiciary.

"With all due respect," she asserted, "such a statement, particularly from the sitting President of the Liberia National Bar Association, is not only inappropriate but deeply troubling.”

Cllr. Scott emphasized the Bar's critical role in defending the integrity and independence of Liberia's judiciary. As the professional body tasked with upholding legal ethics, she argued, the LNBA must serve as a pillar of support for the judicial system—not as a source of public dissent.

According to the former Chief Justice, the LNBA President’s statement risks eroding public trust in the rule of law and threatens the constitutional role of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of legal disputes.

Invoking a Liberian proverb, she said, “You cannot dress the devil in private and undress it in public,” accusing the LNBA leadership of hypocrisy—privately affirming the Court’s authority while publicly undermining it when rulings are unpopular.

She continued, “The Constitution does not speak for itself—the Court speaks on its behalf. And we, as lawyers, are the mouthpiece of the law.”

Cllr. Scott went on to question both the timing and the forum of the LNBA President's remarks, challenging why such concerns were not raised through legal or consultative channels before the Court's decision.

“Why speak now, in public, when the process has concluded?” she asked.

She warned that the Bar’s entanglement in partisan politics could compromise its independence, turning it into a political entity rather than a professional guardian of legal ethics—an outcome the framers of Liberia’s legal framework sought to avoid.

Concluding her speech with a call for unity, Cllr. Scott urged her fellow legal professionals to uphold the principles of justice, integrity, and institutional respect.

“Let us lead by example—not in division, but in unity under the rule of law,” she said.

Her address has sparked widespread debate across legal and civic circles, drawing attention to the broader issue of how professional legal bodies should navigate the tension between free expression and institutional loyalty.

As Liberia commemorated Law Day—a moment to reflect on justice, accountability, and the rule of law—Cllr. Scott’s remarks served as a sobering reminder of the delicate balance between critique and respect in a constitutional democracy.