Why Did the Supreme Court Boycott SONA? -Justice Gbeisay Explains; As Rep. Bility Calls Out Majority Bloc

MONROVIA – When President Joseph Nyuma Boakai delivered his second State of the Nation (SONA) address on January 27, 2025, on the Grounds of the Capitol Building, the one thing that caught the attention of foreign dignitaries and invited guests alike was the conspicuous absence of the full bench of the Supreme Court. The empty seats of the SC Justices would stare everyone accusingly in the face as speaker after speaker delivered their speeches. Since then, an intense debate has ensued about the unexplained absence of the entire Supreme Court Bench on that fateful day, with many providing their own justifications as to the reason why the justices were all absent. But as The Analyst reports, the deafening silence marked by the Justices absence has now been answered by Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay who disclosed on Monday, February 10 in Sanniquellie, Nimba County that their absence at the president’s SONA meant they did not recognize the leadership of the two opposing sides, a position that has prompted the Chairman of the House Rule of Law Caucus Musa Hassan Bility to call on the House Majority Bloc to do the right thing and come together to resolve the looming House impasse.

Justice Gbeisay Explains Supreme Court’s SONA Boycott

In a trending social media post issued on Monday, February 10, in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay provided the reason why the Supreme Court did not attend President Joseph Boakai second State of the Nation Address.

“We made a decision, and the effect of that decision was that ‘look, our law requires that the house should have a quorum and that quorum should be presided over by a speaker’. Now that you, the quote-on-quote majority bloc have a quorum, but we don’t see a speaker there, so whatever you do is ultra virus. In other words, it is illegal”.

“We turned to the minority bloc and said minority bloc, the law says until you can get a majority to get a quorum, you must continue to adjourn from day to day and compel the other people to join. But there is no statue that is telling us how you will compel the people. You don’t have a rule that tells us how you will compel the people. So, you too will remain there. Until you can get the majority, whatever you do is ultra virus”.

“So, on both sides, the Supreme Court was clearly saying go and solve your problems; we don’t have a law to that effect”.

“We have done our own, we are not in control of politics. If for some reason the Senate decides to recognize the majority bloc, the president recognizes the majority bloc and government function is going on, then we receive an invitation from the speaker. Our presence there means we have recognized one side of the bloc. So the best thing to do is to remain who we are. That was the rationale, many people don’t understand it, but that was the rationale of the court”,” Associate Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay explained.

Representative Bility Concurs with SC Boycott Decision

Agreeing with Associate Justice Gbeisay’s explanation, Nimba County District #7 lawmaker Musa Hassan Bility on Tuesday took to social media saying, although the Associate Justice was speaking without the full bench, it remains a statement from an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court—one of those who signed the very opinion that governs the current situation at the House of Representatives.

“I urge you, my colleagues in the majority bloc, to recognize a fundamental truth: While you hold the power of the majority, your current actions are illegal. The court’s ruling has made it clear that even with quorum, the House cannot function without a duly elected Speaker. Meanwhile, we in the minority, while adhering to the law in our sitting, acknowledge that we do not have the numbers required to make binding decisions for the Liberian people.

“This clarification from the court presents us with an opportunity to resolve our differences in a lawful, responsible, and honorable manner. It is an opportunity for us, as elected representatives, to rise above partisanship and act in the best interest of our people.

“We must come together to resolve the leadership issue so that we can perform the work we were sent here to do. Everything happening outside this framework—every action taken beyond the legal confines—is a violation of the Constitution. I implore you, my colleagues, let us sit together. Let us reflect on the state of our country, the difficulties our people face, and the potential dangers ahead if we fail to act responsibly.

“Our role as legislators is not just to represent our people but also to ensure proper oversight of the other branches of government. That is the constitutional responsibility we swore to uphold. That is the duty entrusted to us by the Liberian people.

“I ask you to think deeply about this moment and what it means for our democracy. Let us sit at the table—not in defiance of the law, but in commitment to its principles. The majority remains in your favor; you still have the advantage. But let us use that advantage to negotiate a just and honorable resolution for the betterment of our country,” Representative Bility implored.