MONROVIA – In the wake of Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay’s public defense of his son’s recent judicial appointment, Judge Nancy F. Sammy, President of the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL), has responded, asserting that her communication regarding the appointments was professional and intended solely to safeguard the integrity of the Judiciary.
Judge Sammy explained that shortly after the appointments were made by the President, Associate Magistrates approached her with concerns that individuals who had not graduated from law school were being appointed to positions as Associate Magistrates in various regions. “We are talking about the integrity of the Judiciary, Your Honor,” Judge Sammy said. She added that she had instructed the magistrates to ensure their information was credible before she raised it with the Chief Justice.
According to Judge Sammy, she received a list of eight individuals and subsequently wrote to Chief Justice Gbeisay requesting his intervention to address the matter. She emphasized that her letter was neither disrespectful nor intended for public dissemination. “What made this issue get out of hand, I don’t know. My letter was not a bad letter. But how it got to the public is what disappointed all of us,” she said. She also expressed frustration toward the magistrates for allowing the communication to leak.
Judge Sammy further addressed questions regarding potential conflicts of interest, noting her husband’s role as an Assistant Minister for 18 years. She clarified that she married him after he assumed the position and insisted that his work has no bearing on her judicial duties. “I do not see any conflict of interest between his job and mine,” she stated.
In conclusion, Judge Sammy reaffirmed that her sole intention was to uphold judicial integrity and address credible allegations raised by magistrates. “I was not disrespectful. What made this matter bad was the leakage of my communication on social media,” she said, asserting her professionalism and commitment to the Judiciary.
