Lawyers, CSOs Rally Behind Marrah

By Mo Hamad Kargbo

A growing confrontation between the legal profession and the judiciary has emerged following disciplinary proceedings initiated against the President of the Lawyers’ Society, Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah Esq., a development that has ignited national debate on judicial accountability, freedom of expression, and the limits of professional discipline in Sierra Leone.
At the centre of the controversy is a disciplinary complaint filed before the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) by the Deputy Master and Registrar of the Judiciary, Lloyd Hindolo Jusu. The complaint stems from comments made by Mr. Marrah during a televised discussion on AYV Television on 10 December 2025, marking International Human Rights Day, where he openly criticised the manner in which judicial appointments are made in the country.
During the programme, Mr. Marrah questioned the integrity of the appointment process, arguing that merit, competence, and independence were often sacrificed in favour of political considerations. He warned that such practices had weakened public trust in the courts, famously describing the judiciary as “the sick man of the country.” His remarks, though sharply worded, were framed within a broader discussion on governance, rule of law, and institutional reform.
In a formal letter dated 16 December 2025, the Office of the Master and Registrar accused Mr. Marrah of professional misconduct, contending that his comments were insulting, derogatory, and likely to undermine public confidence in the judiciary. The complaint further cited a 2020 conviction for criminal contempt by the Supreme Court and an alleged incident during a Supreme Court meeting in which Mr. Marrah was accused of climbing onto a table. According to the complainant, these incidents demonstrated a persistent pattern of behaviour inconsistent with the standards expected of a legal practitioner.
On 19 December 2025, the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council officially notified Mr. Marrah of the complaint and requested that he file an affidavit in response by 29 December 2025, pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Act, 2000.
However, the disciplinary action has triggered strong opposition from civil society organisations (CSOs), who see the move as an attempt to silence legitimate criticism of a key public institution. In a joint statement released on 24 December 2025, eight CSOs including the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Citizens’ Barray, and the Human Rights Defenders Network Sierra Leone expressed “deep concern” over what they described as the misuse of disciplinary procedures to stifle dissent.
The organisations acknowledged that legal practitioners are bound by professional ethics and decorum but emphasised that the Constitution of Sierra Leone guarantees freedom of expression, particularly on matters of public interest. They argued that the judiciary, as a public institution funded by taxpayers, must remain open to scrutiny and criticism. According to the CSOs, robust debate about judicial performance should be encouraged as a pathway to reform rather than punished as misconduct.
The CSOs further cautioned that allowing disciplinary bodies to penalise lawyers for public commentary could undermine democratic accountability and discourage professionals from speaking out against systemic weaknesses. They urged the General Legal Council to act impartially and to avoid actions that could create the perception that it is being used as a tool to suppress critical voices within the legal profession.
The Lawyers’ Society itself has taken an uncompromising stance in defence of its president. In a press statement issued on 27 December 2025, the Society described the complaint as an assault on constitutional freedoms and warned that weaponising disciplinary mechanisms against public commentary would have a chilling effect on professional independence. “Silence has never been the guardian of justice. Honest speech, not silence, guards justice,” the statement declared, calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the complaint.
The Society further argued that holding lawyers accountable for expressing opinions on national issues
especially those directly related to justice delivery
would erode the role of the legal profession as a watchdog of democracy and the rule of law.
In a further escalation of the matter, the Lawyers’ Society announced on 29 December 2025 that Mr. Marrah had instituted legal proceedings before the Supreme Court, seeking the protection and enforcement of his constitutional rights to freedom of thought and expression. The action challenges the legality of the disciplinary process, contending that reliance on a resolved 2020 contempt conviction and an alleged non-judicial incident from 2022 amounts to double punishment and violates the right to a fair hearing.
Mr. Marrah has also filed a Notice of Motion requesting a stay of the disciplinary proceedings pending the determination of the constitutional questions raised before the Supreme Court.
As the case unfolds, legal analysts and governance advocates say it represents a defining moment for Sierra Leone’s justice system. The outcome, they argue, will determine whether professional regulation can coexist with open criticism of public institutions or whether disciplinary processes will be used to constrain free expression within the legal community.
With civil society organisations and the Lawyers’ Society standing firmly behind Mr. Marrah, public attention is now focused on how the judiciary and the General Legal Council will navigate a dispute that strikes at the heart of democratic accountability, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Sierra Leone.