“The Courts Are Not Hustle Grounds” – Says Justice Minister Musa Dean

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean says the courts are not grounds for hustle, adding that lawyers and clients should stop procrastinating cases.

Speaking at the opening of the October Term of the Supreme Court, Cllr. Dean said such an act has the propensity to frustrate and delay the ends of Justice.

He however noted that the prevailing party who is onerously and strenuously subjected to a frivolous suit should be compensated. And the practice of filing unnecessary motions that will delay justice or hang justice at the courts must be discouraged.

“The practice of filing frivolous suits should be condemned, decried, and finally eliminated. To end this, we should consider compensation for the prevailing party” he stressed.

While procedures are important as they govern the disposition of matters, the Dean of the Supreme Court’s Bar stated that such procedures should not be unduly preferred over substance adding” it may be necessary to simplify and dispense with some of our procedures which impede the speedy disposition of cases.

He further noted that frivolous suits must be condemned and eliminated from the court system and those who are victims of such must be considered and compensated by the court of competent authority.

Justice Minister Dean in his response to the newly seated Chief Justice of the Supreme Court also noted that the country has made tremendous progress in promoting gender equality.

According to him, women are found in powerful positions in Government for the last two decades, adding that the Liberian laws have been strengthened to end all forms of violence against women.

The Dean of the Supreme Court Bar among other things, said the Children’s law and the Domestic Violence laws are all being vigorously enforced to fight against violence against women and children.

 He maintained that there is now a gender section in almost every ministry and agency of government, noting that the proposed 30% gender quota in the Legislature will soon be signed into law.

He made these remarks on Monday at the Temple of Justice during the seating of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh at the Temple of Justice.