Full analysis of the issued writ. HonCllr J Fonati Koffa is in the lead again.

An Opinion By: Abe Johnson

The notice from the Supreme Court of Liberia represents a significant legal development, where the Court is exercising its authority to address the constitutionality of certain actions taken by members of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Writ Issued:

The Supreme Court has ordered the Minister of Justice (the Attorney General) and certain lawmakers to appear before the Court on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

The purpose is to address legal and constitutional concerns about actions taken by the lawmakers.

2. Enforcement by the Marshal:

The Supreme Court’s Marshal, Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., is tasked with serving the notice to the concerned parties.

The parties must submit their formal responses (returns) to the Court before the scheduled hearing.

3. Commands to Lawmakers:

The Court has instructed the lawmakers to:

“Return to status quo ante”: This means they must restore conditions to how they were before the disputed actions.

“Stay all further proceedings or actions”: They must halt any ongoing or planned activities related to the matter under dispute until the Court decides.

1. Full Bench Hearing:

The case will be reviewed by the Full Bench of the Supreme Court, which includes Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh and four Associate Justices.

The hearing is set for 9:00 a.m. at the Temple of Justice.

5. Public Interest:

The constitutional issues involved appear to have garnered public attention, though the specific details of the lawmakers’ actions are not disclosed in the notice.

This writ represents a significant check on the legislative branch by the judiciary, emphasizing the rule of law and the Constitution as the supreme authority in Liberia.