–For Failing To Attend Court Official Opening
By Rancy Clarke, Bong County Correspondent
The Resident Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Boimah Kontoe, has issued a writ of summon for contempt against 73 members of the Bong County Bar Association for accusing them of shinning the official opening of the May AD 2024 term of court.
In a contempt case, the Judge becomes the complainant, and the judge. Penalties may include sanctions such as fines and imprisonment, etc.
The law had allegedly failed to attend the opening session of the May term of Court on Monday, May 13, 2024.
The lawyers’ action violates the Rule of Court and Chapter 3.3.8 of the New Judicial Law of Liberia, which provides that the judge is the head of the Court, and that lawyers can be punished for being disrespectful to the authority of the court.
It is not clear what makes not attending a court hearing constitute disrespectful to the judge.
