MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The integrity of the Grievance Ethics Committee (GEC) of the Supreme Court of Liberia has been questioned for reportedly altering the High Court’s records in the case between Ballah Yargbo and Cllr. Samuel Pearson, after the GEC lost jurisdiction over the matter.
On February 17, 2025, the Supreme Court suspended Cllr. Pearson from legal practice for six months following a recommendation from the GEC dated February 7, 2025.
The GEC’s February 7 report to the court admitted to the unethical conduct by Cllr. Pearson or restitution, but the Supreme Court imposed a half-year punishment without restitution to bring an end to the matter as provided by law.
Interestingly, another new report surfaced on the Court’s records, allegedly signed by four committee members on October 16, 2024, contrary to the previous one to the GEC’s dated February 7, 2024, recommendation to the Supreme Court that led to the February 17, 2025 decision against Cllr. Pearson.
The GEC’s new report is seeking the suspension and restitution of 9,500 USD from Cllr. Samuel Pearson to the complainant Ballah Yargbo.
The alleged alteration was discovered when the GEC Chair, Cllr. Cyril Jones informed Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyeneh Yuoh in a communication dated March 20, 2025, saying that Cllr. Pearson is refusing to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement to restitute 9,500 USD contrary to the court’s February 17, 2025 decision.
As a result, Cllr. Jones’ March 20 letter to the Chief Justice said:” Suspended lawyer Samuel Pearson has complained against the GEC to the Full Bench of the Supreme Court in a letter dated March 28, 2025, to intervene on grounds that the GEC’s second report is misrepresentation of the Supreme Court’s February 17, 2025 decision.
He is seeking their intervention through an independent investigation regarding the alteration of the Court’s record.