MONROVIA, Oct. 13 -- Liberia's top judge has declared that the country's trial jury system has been so badly compromised that it may no longer be worth keeping. That position has set the Judiciary against the legal profession and a sitting senator, and has raised the question of what protects a verdict once the jury is gone.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr. made the call on Monday at the opening of the Supreme Court's October Term. He told the courtroom that jury manipulation was eroding the administration of justice in both civil and criminal matters. "A corrupt jury is worse than no jury at all," he said.

Within hours, the proposal had drawn a response from the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), a c...