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Rivergee County-Nov. 14, 2025: The Resident Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Rivergee County and current assigned Judge at the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Kru County, Judge George W. Smith has termed Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay as an authoritarian, abuser of power and oppressive among others after appealing to him to stay in Monrovia due to his current medical condition.
Judge Smith made the disclosure in his written Judge’s charge where he was unable to deliver it physically in person. “I could not myself physically deliver this Judge’s Charge because I underwent a critical medical operation/procedure exactly six (6) days ago. Prior to that, I appealed to Mr. Chief Justice to assign me to a circuit near Monrovia where my doctor is, or at least a circuit to give me access to referral hospital other than the Circuits of Grand Kru, Sinoe and River Gee.
According to Judge Smith, the Chief Justice refused to honor his request, apparently under the pretext of bringing reform to the Judiciary/rebranding the Judiciary and maintaining work ethics and discipline in the Judiciary.
He added that, after Chief Justice Gbeisay denied his universal human right to heath request, he reminded him to have the Judiciary refund his $US3,280 used, with the acquiesce of the Court Administrator (CA), to pre-finance some work at the Civil Law Court where I was then assigned. He promised to discuss that request with the CA and revert to me.
“I informed him I urgently needed this money to underwrite my medical expenses, among other things. After my discharge from hospital, I reminded him. Knowing that I was about to leave Monrovia for assignment, not even showing the least empathy for my medical condition, he demanded me to write a formal letter to him.”
Judge Smith said, the action of the Chief Justice is not a good faith judicial reform/rebranding of the Judiciary and maintain workplace ethics in the Judiciary.
“This is excessive abuse of power, an ardent desire to flex power.This is oppression, suppression and authoritarianism – “the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom” – my universal right to freedom of personal health, as in this case” Judge Smith indicated.
He cited Article 8 of the Liberian Constitution our provides that: “The Republic shall direct its policy towards ensuring for all citizens … humane conditions … towards promoting, health,” Article III(B), Convention to the Right to heath, United Nations High Commission for Human Rights and Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) states:
Judge Smith maintained that, “The obligation to respect one’s right to health requires states and others to refrain from interfering directly or indirectly with the right to health. The obligation to protect requires States to prevent third party in the instant, the Chief Justice from interfering with the right to health.”
“I am impelled to make this disclosure, in excise of my constitutional right to free speech, to give notice to all, particularly the Chief Justice, that the violation of Judge Smith’s and his family’s universal human right to health will not absolve him from legal liability in his personal capacity in the event I am seriously harmed.”