The Lawyers’ Society has issued a strong press statement expressing concern over a disciplinary complaint filed against its President, Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah, Esq., describing the move as a threat to freedom of expression and professional independence within the legal profession.
In a statement dated 27 December 2025, the Society said the complaint arose from the President’s exercise of his constitutional right to freedom of expression on matters it described as vital to public confidence in the administration of justice.
While acknowledging that lawyers are bound by professional and ethical responsibilities, the Society emphasized that such duties must coexist with the right to speak openly on democratic and institutional issues. It argued that judicial dignity is enhanced, not weakened, by transparency, scrutiny, and openness to reform, noting that silence has never been a safeguard for justice.
“In any society governed by the rule of law, honest speech — not silence — is what guards justice,” the statement asserted.
The Lawyers’ Society warned that the use of disciplinary mechanisms in direct response to public commentary could create a chilling effect on professional independence, potentially discouraging lawyers from engaging in legitimate public discourse. According to the Society, such actions risk undermining confidence, credibility, and unity within the legal profession, particularly at a time when calls for institutional rebranding and reform persist.
The Society therefore called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the complaint, stressing that disciplinary processes should not be weaponised to suppress dissenting views. It also reaffirmed its full support for its President and any lawyer who faces reprisal for lawful and constitutionally protected expression.
“This moment demands maturity — restraint over retaliation, listening over resistance,” the statement read, adding that public trust in both the Bar and the Judiciary remains strained and can only be restored through humility, reform, and evolution.
The Lawyers’ Society concluded by urging members of the legal fraternity to remain united in defending liberty, dignity, and truth, asserting that justice can only flourish where these principles are upheld.
