On 20 November 2008, the chief justice of Liberia, Johnny Lewis, ordered a camera belonging to a local journalist seized and confiscated after the journalist attempted to take a photograph of Lewis.
Journalist Sando Moore said that Chief Justice Lewis ordered United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) soldiers to seize the journalist's camera while he was attempting to take photographs on the grounds of the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. The Temple of Justice is the chief justice's office building. Moore works for the "Daily Observer" newspaper in Monrovia.
According to Moore, when the chief justice noticed that a photograph was being taken of him, he stopped to inquire as to why the journalist was taking his picture. The journalist told Lewis that because he is a "public figure" he decided to have his photograph for future use, an explanation that apparently did not satisfy the chief justice. After these exchanges, Lewis ordered his UNMIL assigned bodyguards to forcibly seize the journalist's camera. A tussle ensued between the journalist and the UNMIL soldiers who succeeded in confiscating the camera. The incident took place in the presence of associate justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia and several lawyers.
Lewis later returned the camera to Moore after the Press Union of Liberia, the umbrella group of journalists in the country, intervened. In a 21 November statement, the press union threatened the chief justice with an unspecified action and gave him a 48-hour ultimatum calling for the return of the camera.
In a 22 November meeting with Moore, the managing director of the "Daily Observer" and a host of other journalists, Lewis said he regretted the situation and returned the camera.
BACKGROUND:
Lewis has become a persistent threat to the Liberian press. In October 2007, he ordered a number of editors whom he had called for a meeting to write down his name as HIS HONOR CHIEF JUSTICE JOHNNY LEWIS in his full view and read it aloud several times. He contended that the local press do not put the title HIS HONOR before his name when he is featured in the media. He threatened any journalist who would not abide by this rule with detention at the Monrovia Central Prison.
CEMESP sees this latest action of Chief Justice Lewis as a continual attempt by public officials to tame the local press.
The Press Union of Liberia threatened to implement a media blackout of judiciary activities if the chief justice continues to intimidate the local press.
For further information on the October 2007 incident involving Lewis, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/87208
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I am a Liberian residing in the US. As a writer it saddens me a great deal to hear that the Chief Justice of the nation, one who has perhaps spent time in the US or studied democracy would behave as if he is a "god" whom everyone must worship. Press freedom,freedom of speech and the freedom to assemble are the cornerstones of any democracy. Johnny Lewis and his likes claim the "love of liberty brought them" to Liberia. But we now know better. "They" met true liberty there. The kind of Liberty that respects the dignity of every citizen. The kind of liberty that guarantees basic human freedoms: speech, assembly and press and the persuit of happyness. How will the courts protect the people if the Chief Justice is behaving as a "freed- slave-turned-slave master?" The very behavior that is at the core of our national conflicts?
Am afrcian staying in the US.U want people to call u,Honor chief Justic Johnny Lewis but u do not know what it means.Freedom of press is important if jounalist like Lansana Fofana can take a picture of former president of America Bill Cliton who are u.Please try and be flexible with the Liberian people so that let them don't see u and run.Because when i was there people go in their shell when u are coming. Please if u need attention do something positive like what Barack has done.
Am an afican staying in the US.Please change your attitude towards jounalist in Liberia.Change we believe in freedom of press and freedom of association.
To all of you "Liberians residing in the U.S." commenting, I want you to know where you came from. Our customs are different from that of the U.S. We respect our elders, leaders,and people in high places. Even in the Great and democratic U.S.,don't we call policemen "sirs" and ordinary judges "Your Honors"? The problem is , the moment we know a small thing, we become bigheaded and stop respecting our leaders. Even though I do not endorse mr.Lewis's confiscation of a journalist's camera, I do think he deserve the title "His Honor Chief Justice Johnny Lewis".We need to honor and respect our leaders for the hard work they are doing.The freedom we enjoy now in America and constantly referred to took a long time and hard work to come by.If you are a true Lierian,you know that when you go to home, despite your learnedness, you bow down to your elders and they can even spank you when you misbehave.Liberian journalists feel it is good journalism to always confront leaders and dsirespect people in authority. We need to change this behavior.
Respecting the elders and people in leadership positions, especially officials of the high courts and law enforcements, isn't unique only to Liberia. I'm sure those people in America who have run into a policeman or being in court have shown respect by calling the policeman, Officer or the judge, your Honour. However, a lack of respect is only a result of poor parenting and not a crime. Our Chief Justice - Johnny Lewis - shouldn't abuse his power by intimadating the press.
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