-Pres. Weah Says of New Chief Justice
IPNEWS: President George Weah on Thursday, September 29, 2022, commissioned the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Her Honor Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Youh.
She is the third female to occupy the highest office in Liberia’s judicial system.
Performing the solemn ceremony at the Executive Mansion, President Weah said he had no doubts about the ability of the new Chief Justice to perform to expectations because she has got the requisite experience, skills, and qualifications.
The President expressed delight about the fact that he Cllr Youh, the third female Chief Justice in the 175-year history of the founding of the Liberian Republic.
He also noted that the new Chief Justice has become the first female to ascend to this high office of leadership in the Second Branch of Government since 2003, some 19 years ago.
“Your Honor, upon my nomination, you have been successfully vetted and confirmed by the Honorable Liberian Senate, following upon which you are now being commissioned by me as evidence of the full confidence and support of the other two branches of our tripartite governance structure,” President Weah said.
The President told the gathering that he harbored no doubt that the new Chief Justice has the requisite experience, skills, and qualifications to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, considering the more than four decades she has practiced in Liberia as a trial and transactional lawyer, as well as nine years as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court bench.
“It is important to note that, throughout your illustrious career in the practice of law and jurisprudence in Liberia,” the President told Madam Youh, “you have earned a well-deserved reputation of unquestionable character and unimpeachable good judgment.”
In her remarks at the occasion attended by an array of government officials, including members of the National Legislature and the Judiciary, Chief Justice Youh promised to uphold the rule of law, and dispense justice without fear and favor.
Cllr. Yuoh obtained her high school education and diploma from the St. Teresa’s Convent, a Catholic High School in Monrovia in 1974 and enrolled at the Cuttington University College (CUC), now Cuttington University (CU), in Suakoko, Bong County, in pursuit of her tertiary education where she graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science.
In 1979, Justice Yuoh enrolled at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, where she was trained as a lawyer. In 1981, she successfully completed her law studies at this institution and obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and was subsequently admitted into the Liberia National Bar Association as an Attorney-At-Law. She was also admitted as Counsellor-At-Law of the Supreme Court Bar in 1988.
She began her public and professional service within the Executive Branch, Republic of Liberia, first at the Ministry of Justice as an Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs from 1983 – 1985, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Coordinator, African Affairs, 1988 – 1990, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) as Corporate Secretary/Assistant Legal Counsel/Secretary, Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) from 2000 – 2003 and lastly at the Law Reform Commission, where she served as Acting Executive Director and Commissioner respectively from July 2011 – April 2013.
She has replaced Cllr. Francis S. Korkpor, who has been retired on constitutional considerations, having served in the capacity for more than a decade.
Korkpor was in 2013 appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf after the retirement of Chief Justice Johnnie N. Lewis, due to poor health.
In a statement at the recent farewell program, President George Weah said Justice Korkpor has paid his dues, dating as far back as when he championed the cause of the poor and needy and when he represented the interest of the nation by his support for civil society and journalists.
“During his work at the Justice and Peace Commission established by the Catholic Church in the early 1990s to address human rights abuses and injustices in our society,” President Weah recalled, Cllr Kporkpor quietly, but fearlessly made the case for justice and peace for all Liberians, but especially for the underprivileged and the poor.
“Many times, his work brought him into conflict with some of Liberia’s past leaders, but he always remained steadfast to the cause of justice,” the Liberian Leader said further, adding that Justice Korkpor’s record for almost two decades as a Justice on the Supreme Court bench has remained exemplary and outstanding.
He dedicated his time, first as an Associate Justice and later as Chief Justice, to seeing through key judicial reforms – as well as embarking on the development of major additions and improvements to court infrastructure throughout the country, thereby bringing justice closer to the people,” President Weah pointed out.
