By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – The Global Methodist Church (GMC) in Liberia has filed a motion challenging the recent ruling of His Honor Judge George Smith of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Civil Law Court, in an ongoing church property dispute. The GMC argues that Judge Smith, who ruled against them, lacked the impartiality and judicial independence necessary to fairly adjudicate the sensitive matter.
According to court filings, the movants state that “Movants submit that with this membership and your leadership role in the Petitioner UMC, especially as a member of its legal team of the Petitioner, Respondent herein, as well as your entrenched family tie to the Petitioner/Respondent, Your Honor was lacking in every judicial quality to hear and determine this matter impartially.” The motion highlights the judge’s longstanding family and organizational ties to the Martha Tubman United Methodist Church in Paynesville City, central to the dispute.
The motion further alleges that Judge Smith improperly denied the movants’ request to dismiss the case despite ongoing property disputes in multiple jurisdictions, including Ganta in Nimba County, and Weala and Duazon in Margibi County. The filing states: “You have improperly and impartially assigned to yourself the authority of a superior judge without any support in law; and to make rulings and decisions that cover and affect properties outside your jurisdiction… This is not only unlawful and unethical but also has the propensity to embarrass your fellow judges in those jurisdictions who are attending to those matters.”
Movants also challenge a summary judgment granted in favor of the respondent, claiming that the Respondent filed a 40-count Returns with seven exhibits and had notified the court of video evidence to be presented during trial. The court documents assert that “only a conflicted judge can grant such summary judgment in the true sense of this world to deny the video evidence from being displayed in open court.”
The legal team cites foundational principles of judicial conduct, referencing Barnard L. Shienog’s Code of Morals and Professional Ethics and Sir Francis Bacon’s essentials for any true judge. These include impartiality, independence, and immunity, with impartiality described as the most critical. The filing notes, “Movants say that not only are the above quotations contained in the Code of Morals and Professional Ethics, they are also cardinal parts of the Judicial Canon which specifically govern the conduct of judges like 1st Respondent herein.”
The motion requests that the court rescind all previous judgments, that Judge Smith remove himself from the matter entirely, and that any other relief deemed just and legal under the circumstances be granted. The legal team representing the movants includes attorneys Victor Howard, Joshua Kulah, Jlateh Sayon, Cletus Sieh, Allen F. Gweh, Ferrington Fahngalo, Sedia Williams, and T. Emmanuel Tomah.
The dispute reportedly revolves around differing interpretations of the UMC’s internal Book of Discipline, which has led to internal disagreements and competing claims over church property. The GMC alleges that the judge’s familial and organizational ties to the Petitioner compromised impartiality, raising serious questions about judicial ethics and the handling of intra-church disputes in Liberia.
