Monrovia – The Office of The War & Economic Crimes Court of Liberia says it takes note of a press release issued by a select group of civil society organizations under the Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Courts in Liberia and Human Rights Community of Liberia. The press release raises concerns about the appointment of Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi as the Executive Director of the Office, citing his previous legal representation of individuals accused of war crimes and his lawsuits against human rights defenders.
In a statement released today, the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court notes that it is deeply concerned that these arguments have the potential to undermine the progress being made by the country in breaking away from the culture of impunity and establishing justice and accountability. It is unfortunate that a few individuals have chosen to manifest ignorance of how a criminal justice system, both locally and internationally, works, including the role of lawyers.
In response to the allegations and conclusions put forth by these civil society organizations, the Office of The Economic Crimes Court countered with the following points:
- The right to counsel and the inviolability of the lawyer-client relationship are enshrined in Article 21 (i) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. It is disheartening to see human rights advocates petitioning the government to violate this constitutional provision for self-interest and appeasement, disregarding the moral and ethical breach it represents.
- Non-interference with the lawyer-client relationship and absolute immunity for lawyers in the performance of their duties are fundamental principles of international crime law. The legal profession is constitutionally protected, and no government agency or court can sanction or reprimand a lawyer for performing their constitutional duty. This principle is not unique to Liberia but is upheld internationally. Precedents from the International Criminal Court and the United States of America support this fundamental principle.
It is crucial to understand that lawyers are not parties to a case but are defenders of their clients’ legal interests. The representation of individuals accused of war crimes does not render a lawyer unqualified or compromised. The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Karim Ahmad Khan, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson of the United States Supreme Court are examples of highly respected legal professionals who have represented defendants accused of heinous crimes without compromising their qualifications or integrity.
The Office of The War & Economic Crimes Court of Liberia wants to emphasize that its Executive Director, Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi, is not conflicted in any way and has demonstrated outstanding professionalism and ethics throughout his legal career. He has never appeared before any grievance and ethics committee and has even served as amicus curiae to the Supreme Court of Liberia on cases involving ethical transgressions. Cllr. Massaquoi is committed to leading a team of professionals dedicated to achieving the mandate of the Office and will not waste valuable time responding to baseless accusations.
Furthermore, the Office of The War & Economic Crimes Court of Liberia appreciates the kind words of U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Global Human Rights Subcommittee, who acknowledged President Boakai’s timely appointment of Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi as the Executive Director. The Office remains open to engaging with civil society organizations sincerely involved in advocating for accountability and the rule of law in Liberia.