The National Association of Public Defenders of Liberia has publicly commended Bong County Senator Prince K. Moye Sr. for what it described as his “instrumental role” in securing the Association’s first-ever line item in the National Budget—a US$200,000 allocation in the 2026 Supplementary Budget.
The recognition came during a brief appreciation ceremony held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Senator Moye’s Capitol Building office. Cllr. Bestman Juah, President of the National Association of Public Defenders of Liberia, praised the Senator for championing the Association’s request for budgetary support during recent legislative deliberations.
“This is the first time in the history of our association that we have been included in the National Budget,” Cllr. Juah said. “Without the Senator’s direct intervention and advocacy on the floor, our association would not have gained such national recognition and visibility. This allocation will further enhance our operational capacity to ensure that hundreds of indigent criminal defendants across the country are adequately represented by public defenders.”
The Judiciary’s Public Defenders Program is mandated to provide free legal aid services to indigent criminal defendants at all levels of the court system. Despite its constitutional importance, however, the program has historically operated without a dedicated budget line.
Senator Moye, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, accepted the recognition with gratitude, saying he had not expected the honor.
“I want to thank you for this recognition. I did not expect it,” Moye said. “Your association is one of the most important institutions in our country, particularly in the leeward counties. Without public defenders, we cannot provide our citizens with the kind of justice they deserve.”
The Senator described public defenders as “indispensable to ensuring equal access to justice” and pledged to mobilize broader legislative support for the Public Defenders Program.
“Public defenders play a central role in representing criminal defendants who cannot afford legal counsel, helping to expand access to justice throughout the country,” he said. “Supporting the Public Defenders Program is an obligation for all senators and legislators, not just a few individuals.”
Moye also committed to working with the Senate Pro Tempore and his legislative colleagues to increase future budgetary allocations. While welcoming the US$200,000 appropriation, he acknowledged that it falls short of the program’s needs.
“The US$200,000 is little compared to the level of work being done by public defenders,” Moye admitted. “I’m going to lobby the Pro Tempore and other senators to increase your allocation in future budgets.”
He added that efforts would be made to ensure that public defenders in all 15 counties receive adequate support.
“On behalf of the Pro Tempore and all senators, we are committed to working with the Legislature to ensure that public defenders across the counties are well supported and can continue serving our people in their best interests,” he said.
The supplementary budget passed by the Legislature earmarks US$200,000 specifically for the Public Defenders Program, marking the first direct budgetary allocation the Association has received since its establishment.
Civil society organizations have welcomed the move. The Liberia National Bar Association described the allocation as “a win for access to justice,” noting that a functional public defense system is critical to protecting the constitutional rights of indigent criminal defendants and restoring public confidence in the Judiciary.
According to the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice, pretrial detainees account for about 63 percent of Liberia’s prison population. Many remain in prolonged pretrial detention because they lack legal representation.
Justice sector stakeholders argue that strengthening the public defense system is fundamental to promoting democracy and the rule of law. Senator Moye echoed that sentiment, stating that “access to justice is not reserved only for those with financial means.”
The recognition ceremony underscores growing legislative attention to Liberia’s public defenders, whose work has increasingly earned praise from policymakers amid broader efforts to reform the country’s criminal justice system.
The National Association of Public Defenders now awaits presidential action on the supplementary budget and the opportunity to transform this historic allocation into meaningful legal representation for indigent criminal defendants across Liberia.
