The International Commission of Jurists in Newsletter No. 12 of June 1961 has already commented on the case of Counsellor Christian A. Cassell of Monrovia who was disbarred by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia on grounds of gross constructive contempt.
The Court held that this contempt was committed by Mr. Cassell because of his presentation to the African Conference on the Rule of Law, held in Lagos in January 1961, of a report containing some critical observations on the administration of justice in this country.
The Commission is gravely concerned over the fact that a member of the Bar of Liberia should have been found guilty of contempt for statements made moderately and in good faith at a conference of the Commission held in a neighbouring African State. The Commission recognizes the principle at stake as one of paramount importance and has instituted a study of the law on contempt of court in relation to the Cassell case. The results of this inquiry follow.
Liberia-cassell case-publications-1961-eng (full text in English, PDF)