In a sharp and unexpected rebuke, former Chief Justice of Liberia, Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott, has taken the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) to task for its public reaction to a recent Supreme Court ruling involving embattled House Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa.
Speaking as keynote speaker at the LNBA’s annual Law Day celebration held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Oldest Congo Town, Cllr. Musu-Scott condemned the Bar’s statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Koffa’s Bill of Information, suggesting it undermines the integrity of the judiciary and fuels political division.
“The Bar must not be seen as picking sides, especially in such sensitive times,” she said, warning that the legal body’s posture risks eroding public trust in the rule of law. “When we allow our association to be used, wittingly or unwittingly, as a political tool, we compromise the very justice system we are sworn to protect.”
Her comments come amid mounting criticism from various legal practitioners who believe the LNBA overstepped by publicly questioning the Court’s handling of the Bill of Information filed by Speaker Koffa. Critics argue that the Bar’s timing and tone were inappropriate and could be interpreted as politically charged.
Cllr. Musu-Scott, who served as Chief Justice from 1997 to 2003, is widely respected for her contributions to legal reform and her firm stance on judicial independence. Her statement adds weight to an already growing chorus of disapproval regarding the LNBA’s handling of the matter.
The Supreme Court’s decision in favor of Koffa, which came under fire from some members of the Bar, has reignited long-standing tensions between the judiciary and sections of the legal community. However, Musu-Scott’s intervention suggests that internal dissent within the Bar is now surfacing more publicly.
She urged the LNBA to return to its core mandate of promoting legal excellence and defending constitutional order without political entanglements.
The LNBA has yet to officially respond to Cllr. Musu-Scott’s remarks.
