Shearman & Sterling’s Pro Bono Committee recently hosted a visiting judicial delegation from Liberia, led by the country’s Chief Justice, the Hon. Johnnie N. Lewis.
The firm has been working with Lawyers Without Borders on a pro bono basis to assist with the rebuilding of Liberia’s legal system in the aftermath of the African nation’s devastating civil war. Shearman & Sterling attorneys have traveled to Liberia to perform pro bono work, including conducting an on-site assessment of the needs of the court system and a trial skills training session. The firm’s attorneys also are assisting in a massive effort to read, brief, and index all reported Liberian case law so that it will be easily accessible to lawyers in Liberia.
On July 16 in the firm’s New York office, a number of partners, associates, and summer associates, along with eight high school students from the Legal Outreach program, attended a talk given by Hon. Judge Josephus Boima Kontoe, a resident circuit judge who served as administrative assistant to the country’s Minister of Education before earning his law degree. Partner Antonia Stolper (New York-Capital Markets), a member of the Pro Bono Committee, introduced the judge, who was personally selected by the Chief Justice to visit the US as part of the delegation.
Judge Kontoe talked about how his career developed amidst his country’s 16-year civil war. Having fled the country in 1996 with his family, Judge Kontoe was asked by the United Nations Human Rights Commission to serve as the headmaster of a school for refugees in Ghana. In 1997, he learned over a pirate radio station that he had been appointed a judge in his home country by the country’s incoming president, former rebel leader Charles Taylor. Judge Kontoe faced many challenges in post-war Liberia, particularly when presented with a case involving soldiers loyal to Taylor who were accused of killing some Nigerians.
Judge Kontoe said the situation for the judiciary has improved under current Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who took office in 2006 following a democratic election. The administration recently established a new legal training institute to provide continuing education to judges and lawyers, and the country has received grants from the US and other countries to renovate court buildings.
“While some progress has been made on the criminal justice front, more work needs to be done,” Judge Kontoe acknowledged. Having lived under a regime that used violence to get its way, “people of my generation are not conditioned to appreciate the rule of law and thereby obey it – people like to be untouchable,” he observed. But “as a judge,” he added, “I’m resolved to see people the way the law sees them.”
Following the judge’s talk, the delegation met for lunch with Shearman & Sterling partners, including Denise Grant (New York-Finance), Danforth Newcomb (New York-Litigation), and Cynthia Urda Kassis (New York-Finance). Of Counsel George Wade (New York-Litigation), counsel Neil Koslowe (Washington, D.C.-Litigation), and associate Parth Chanda (New York-Litigation) also participated.
Shearman & Sterling continues its Liberia-related pro bono work. Individuals interested in assisting with the case briefing project or in preparing for the next skills training course may contact the Pro Bono Group for details.