General News
Jury Service Not Income Generating Activity
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- Details
- Published on Thursday, 14 February 2013 12:43
- Written by Jimmey C. Fahngon
...Judge Tells Prospective Jurors
Criminal Court "C" Judge Yussiff D. Kaba has told prospective jurors that jury service is not an employment or income generating activity.
Judge Kaba made the statement Wednesday when he delivered the charge at the formal opening of the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes, 'A' 'B' 'C' and 'D' for the February Term of court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
He said jury service is a civil duty that requires honesty, transparency and not a money making thing.
Judge Kaba told the prospective jurors that as they embark on the duty of contributing to their country, they must do it with conscience and be guided by the truth.
The Criminal Court "C" Judge told the prospective jurors that the decisions they take would affect them tomorrow and urged them to be guided by God in their decision-making.
He said jurors are representatives of the civil society in the determination of judicial matters, adding "you must be fair and honest."
At the same time, Judge Kaba has decried allotment of the judiciary in the 2012/13 fiscal budget.
He said the judiciary which is charged with the responsibility of dispensing justice, has an allotment of two percent of the national budget. He fell short of saying what the two percent constitutes in dollars and cents.
"We are of the opinion that the survival of any democratic society lies in the dispensation of justice; therefore, if democracy is to be sustained, the justice system needs to be fully supported," he said.
Judge Kaba, however, lauded government for the level of support given the judiciary especially in the areas of infrastructure development and logistics.
