By Jacqueline Dennis
Judge George W. Smith of the Sixth Judicial Civil Law Court has ordered the eviction of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) from the property belonging to the intestate estate of the late Martha Stubblefield Bernard.
On Monday, Judge Smith directed the court clerk to issue a writ for the eviction, which will be carried out by the sheriff and the Liberia National Police.
In response to Judge Smithโs ruling, lawyers representing the CDC announced their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court during its October Term. However, Judge Smith clarified that this appeal does not halt the enforcement of the court’s judgment, as stipulated by Section 62.2(4) of the Civil Procedure Law.
On Friday, Judge Smith denied a separate motion from CDC lawyers that sought to compel the estate to sell the property, stating that there were no legal grounds to support such a sale.
This judgment reaffirms a ruling made by the Supreme Court in 2016, which awarded ownership of the land to the Barnards’ estate, represented by Administrator Ebrima Varney Dempster.
