The justices were absent during President Joseph Boakai’s second State of the Nation Address, which commenced at 4:00 PM on Monday, January 27, 2025. This was an unexpected development.
According to Article 58 of the Liberian Constitution, the president is required to address members of the legislature every fourth working Monday of January each year.
The Executive Mansion issued the official protocol for the ceremony on Sunday, directing all visitors, dignitaries, and members of the judiciary and legislature to take their seats by 3:45 PM in preparation for the President’s arrival. However, by 3:50 PM, no Supreme Court justices had taken their seats, prompting inquiries about their whereabouts.
Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh was absent because she was attending the Annual High-Level Meeting of Chief Justices and Presidents of Supreme and Constitutional Courts from Africa and the Middle East in Cairo, Egypt, as stated by the Supreme Court earlier on Monday.
The significant annual gathering aims to enhance judicial cooperation between Middle Eastern and African countries. The Supreme Court’s Director of Communications, Darryl Ambrose Nmah Sr., did not confirm whether the other justices would be present. In a Facebook post, Nmah mentioned that he and the Chief Justice were in Cairo on an international assignment. However, Liberia Public Radio was unable to reach him for additional information.
The absence of the justices has generated considerable speculation within political circles. Many believe that their boycott might be a calculated effort to distance the judiciary from Richard Koon, who was controversially elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Court dissatisfied over executive’s action?
The Supreme Court’s decision regarding the ongoing leadership issue has been contentious, and some argue that the justices’ absence may suggest dissatisfaction with Koon’s leadership.
This notable absence from such a significant national occasion has heightened political intrigue in Liberia, as tensions continue to rise over the power struggle within the House of Representatives.
Former Representative Acarous Moses Gray, a member of the former ruling party Congress for Democratic Change, stated on a local radio show that the Supreme Court’s decision was a step in the right direction.
He believed the court action was aimed at delegitimizing the leadership of the group of lawmakers referred to as the majority members. The Supreme Court has not yet formally commented on their absence during the President’s annual message.
