The Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia will convene a National Judicial Conference from March 8 — 12, 2010 in the Chambers of the Supreme Court, Temple of Justice, Monrovia under the Theme: “THE JUDICIARY: CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY”. According to a press release, circuit and specialized court judges, stipendiary magistrates and one associate magistrate from each magisterial district have been mandated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia to attend all sessions of the Conference as well as the formal opening of the March Term of the Supreme Court at 9:00am on March 8, 2010.  The Supreme Court has also mandated each stipendiary magistrate to assign an associate magistrate to his magisterial district in order to keep the courts operational during the conference. The Supreme further mandates that where there is no Associate Magistrate to be left in the Magisterial Court, the Stipendiary Magistrate shall remain in his assigned Magisterial District.

The release said members of the Liberian National Bar Association have also been requested to attend the conference.  The National Judicial Conference is the first of its kind since the seating of the Lewis Bench of the 1-lonourable Supreme Court. Rule XIX, Part (1) of the Supreme Court Rule provides that “the Supreme Court shall hold a National Judicial Conference at least once a year...”  Funding for this Conference is being provided by the Government, with logistical support expected from UNMIL, UNDP and the World Bank. Several topics will be discussed.