By: Samuel B. Johnson
The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari, seeking review of a lower court decision that reaffirmed an eviction order against the party. The CDC's petition stems from a long-standing dispute over a 4.23-acre property in Congo Town, which houses the party's headquarters.
On August 1, 2025, Assigned Circuit Judge George Smith of the 6th Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court of Montserrado denied and dismissed the CDC's petition for specific performance, which sought the sale of the property to the party. The judge ruled that the CDC failed to provide legal proof of an existing contract between the party and the administrator of the late Martha Stubblefield's estate, represented by Administrator Ebrima Varney Dempster.
The CDC's petition for specific performance was an attempt to purchase the property, but Judge Smith's decision upheld a 2016 Supreme Court ruling that ordered the CDC to be evicted from the property. The party's lawyers claim that Judge Smith erred in his decision and are seeking the Supreme Court's review.
The CDC's petition for a writ of certiorari is a process where the party seeks judicial review of the lower court's decision by the Supreme Court. The party's lawyers believe that the Supreme Court will overturn Judge Smith's decision.
The High Court has confirmed that the CDC filed a petition before the presiding Justice in Chamber for a writ of certiorari, but the Justice is yet to act on the matter. The CDC's decision to seek Supreme Court review highlights the party's determination to resolve the long-standing property dispute.
The dispute over the property has been ongoing for several years, with the CDC seeking to purchase the land and the administrator of the late Martha Stubblefield's estate resisting the party's efforts. The Supreme Court's decision will likely bring clarity to the matter and determine the fate of the CDC's headquarters.
The case has significant implications for the CDC and its operations, and the party's decision to seek Supreme Court review demonstrates its commitment to pursuing all available legal avenues to resolve the dispute.
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