Monrovia, Liberia – October 10, 2024 – The Supreme Court of Liberia has issued a stay order in a legal dispute involving the Opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), and families involving two estates—the Intestate Estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard and the Intestate Estate of William Thomas Bernard.
Her Honor A. Bonah Elliott, is the assigned Circuit Judge of the Civil Law Court.
The order, issued by Associate Justice Yamic Quiqui Gbeisay, who is presiding in Chambers, mandates Judge Elliott to halt all proceedings in the case until further notice.
A conference has been scheduled for October 18, 2024, to discuss the petition filed by the CDC, which is seeking a writ of mandamus against Judge Elliott’s order and others.
A writ of mandamus is a court order compelling a government official, public agency, or lower court to perform a duty that they are legally obligated to complete.
The CDC, represented by its acting chairman, Janka Kowo, filed the petition against Judge Elliott, citing grievances related to her handling of a case involving two estates—the Intestate Estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard and the Intestate Estate of William Thomas Bernard.
Several other individuals, including Archibald F. Bernard and Nathaniel McGill, a prominent CDC official, are named as respondents.
The writ of mandamus, if granted, would compel the court to act on the CDC’s claims.
Until the conference, scheduled for next week, all legal actions in the matter will remain suspended, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The Civil Law Court in early September issued a writ of possession in favor of Martha Stubblefield Barnard, resulting in the eviction of the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) from a disputed property that has served as the party’s headquarters for nearly 20 years.
The eviction order stems from a longstanding lease agreement, which has been a point of contention between the involved parties.
CDC has since maintained that they will resist such a move as the party Chairman Janga Kowo was at the court to seek information on the matter
