Legal Professional Development and Anti-Corruption Activity in Liberia (LPAC) Quarterly Report (October 1 – December 31, 2018)

The program addresses two fundamental challenges to Liberia's development as a state following the rule of law: increasing the capacity of its institutions to produce a sufficient number of qualified judges, magistrates, prosecutors, public defenders, lawyers, and other law-trained actors to maintain an effective legal system, and reducing the corruption that undermines the justice system. LPAC consists of two components to address these challenges. The first component directs capacity building to the four key Liberian justice sector institutions: the Judicial Institute (JI), the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School (Law School), the Liberian Legal Information Institute (LiberLII), and the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA). The second component supports the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and associated Government of Liberia (GOL) entities in their efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict perpetrators of corruption-related crimes, and to educate the public regarding the fight against corruption in Liberia. During the quarter, USAID through LPAC received compliments from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia at the opening of the Courts on October 8, 2018. The Chief Justice praised USAID and LPAC for their assistance in implementing the Judicial Institute Professional Magistrates Training Program Cycle III, which has been successful in enhancing the knowledge of the law and performance of Associate Magistrates. The 2018-2019 Academic Year started at the Law School on October 22, 2018, with academic records, registration, and the payment of fees available online. Four USAID LPAC scholars graduated on December 12, 2018, and two additional students are expected to graduate at the conclusion of the current semester. The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), LPAC, held its 2018 Annual Convention from November 29 to December 1, 2018, in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The LNBA elected a new Executive Board and elected Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe as their President for the new 3-year term. LPAC staff provided assistance to the LACC in building the capacity of its enforcement division officers to conduct and manage operations leading to the conduct of several complex operations in major investigations and joint operations with related agencies. The LPAC COP and the Legal and Judicial Advisor met with the newly appointed Chairperson of the JI Board of Governors, Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, to discuss the LPAC Year 4 Work Plan and support to JI, potential avenues of cooperation, and pending joint activities. Justice Yuoh extended Supreme Court appreciation and thanked LPAC for the support to the Judicial Institute, and also to an independent Judiciary and overall to the rule of law in Liberia. LPAC's efforts to strengthen the Judicial Institute include quarterly training of various judicial staff, conducting an assessment of the Judicial Institute since its establishment in 2009, the revision and development of Beneficiary Selection Criteria, and the development of a comprehensive plan for the Institute's sustainability. The LPAC COP congratulated Justice Yuoh for the new position and acknowledged the support LPAC has received from the Supreme Court. The LPAC program has made significant progress in strengthening the capacity of the Judicial Institute, the Law School, LiberLII, and the LNBA, as well as the LACC. The program's efforts have contributed to the growth of the LNBA's membership from around 200 to nearly 1000, and have helped to establish a special committee of senior officers from law enforcement agencies with a role in economic crimes of national importance.