-Outlines Major Achievements
IPNEWS: Former Chief Justice Francis Saye Korkpor, Sr. who retired from his post on Tuesday, September 27, has left the post listing several development agendas during his decade-long leadership.
As he exited the third most powerful post in the nation, Justice Korkpor among others named the construction of additional judicial complexes in Bong County, Grand Kru County, Grand Gedeh County, Nimba County and Bomi County.
Cllr. Korkpor, who retired because he has reached age 70, disclosed that additional Judicial Complexes are being constructed in River Gee County and Rivercess County.
According to him, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had told him that she had appointed him for continuity’s sake and also based on certain criteria which she considered essential of a justice, key amongst which are knowledge of the law, integrity, and human rights records, amongst others.
He thanked his colleagues who worked with him on the Supreme Court’s Bench. He stated that they had worked assiduously could improve conditions in the Judiciary.
For his part Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, Minister of Justice, told the outgoing Chief Justice, he is closing after a hectic period of monumental work of hearing arguments and delivering opinions in matters that have been brought before the Supreme Court.
Minster Dean pointed out that the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, Article 72(b) provides that “Justices of the Supreme Court: “Shall be retired at the age of 70 provided, however, that a justice who has attained that age may continue in office for a long as may be necessary to enable him to render judgment or perform any other judicial duty in regard to proceedings entertained by him before be attained that age.”
He said many legal practitioners, including himself, continue to reflect on the practicality of the constitutional provisions given the ever demanding and ever-changing nature of their legal system, where they give currency to seniority and acknowledge that the longer the years of practice, the wealthier in experience the individual becomes.
Justice Minister Dean further that it can safely be said that justices and Judges age like fine wine they get better over time. As such they advance the need for a national dialogue to revisit the age clause in the constitution.
He narrated that their legal system is patterned after that of the United States. “That the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States serve until they die, resign, retire, or are impeached, the 70-year retirement provision for their judge’s chief and associate justices may not be realistic today,” he stated.
Also speaking, President George Weah praised the former Chief Justice for showing an exemplified upstanding. According to the President, the former Chief Justice’s good works at the Justice and Peace Commission established by the Catholic Church will always live after him. By Jacqueline Dinnes
