Sierra Leone Supreme Court discharges lawyer JFK from contempt

The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has discharged lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, known as JFK, from contempt proceedings following an apology to the court. Kamara, the lead counsel for plaintiffs in an ongoing constitutional amendment case, had been detained due to contempt charges arising from the proceedings.

During the hearing on October 13, 2026, Kamara expressed remorse for the incident. His colleague, Borbor Kabba, also appealed to the justices to accept the apology, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a cordial relationship between the bench and the bar to ensure the effective administration of justice.

Chief Justice Komba Kamanda accepted the apology on behalf of the court. In his address, the Chief Justice advised lawyers, government officials, and the public to exercise restraint when discussing the constitutional amendment case while it remains under judicial review.