Chief Justice of Liberia


The Chief Justice of Liberia is the head of the judicial branch of the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of Liberia.

Appointment and term

Article 54 of the Constitution stipulates that the Chief Justice is appointed by the President of Liberia and confirmed by the Senate. Per Article 68, eligibility for the position of Chief Justice requires that the candidate:
Article 71 states that the Chief Justice "shall hold their offices during good behavior." According to Article 72, the Chief Justice must retire from office upon reaching the age of 70, though he may remain on the Court long enough to render judgment or perform any judicial duties regarding matters he began addressing before reaching that age.

Duties

In addition to acting as head judge on the Supreme Court and managing all subordinate courts, the Constitution provides several duties to the Chief Justice. In the case of impeachment of the President or Vice President, Article 43 mandates that the Chief Justice preside over the trial in the Senate. Additionally, Article 53 requires the Chief Justice to swear in the President in front of a joint session of the Legislature.

Removal from office

The Chief Justice may be removed from office upon impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate. Article 71 of the Constitution stipulates that the Chief Justice may only be removed in the event of "misconduct, gross breach of duty, inability to perform the functions of their office, or conviction in a court of law for treason, bribery or other infamous crimes." In the event of an impeachment trial of the Chief Justice in the Senate, the President of the Senate presides over the proceedings.
Only one Chief Justice, Chea Cheapoo, has been removed in this manner.

List of Chief Justices

Source:
; Status
No.PortraitChief Justice
TenureNominated by President
1Samuel Benedict
1847–1854Joseph Jenkins Roberts
2John Day
1854–1859Joseph Jenkins Roberts
3Boston Jenkins Drayton
1861–1864Stephen Allen Benson
4Edward James Roye
1865–1868Daniel Bashiel Warner
5C. L. Parsons1869–1894James Spriggs Payne
6Zacharia B. Roberts1895–1910Joseph James Cheeseman
7James A. Toliver1911–1913Arthur Barclay
8J. J. Dossen
1913–1924Daniel Edward Howard
9F. E. R. Johnson1924–1933Charles D. B. King
10Louis Arthur Grimes
1933–1948Edwin Barclay
11H. Nimine Russell1949–1956William Tubman
12A. Dash Wilson
1958–1970William Tubman
13James A. A. Pierre
1971–1980William Tubman
Emmanuel Gbalazeh
1980–1986People's Redemption Council
14James N. Nagbe1986–1987Samuel Doe
15Chea Cheapoo
1987Samuel Doe
16Emmanuel Gbalazeh
1988–1990Samuel Doe
James G. Bull1992–1996Amos Sawyer
Frances Johnson-Morris1996–1997Ruth Perry
17Gloria Musu-Scott1997–2003Charles Taylor
Henry Reed Cooper2003–2006National Transitional Government
18Johnnie Lewis
2006–2012Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
19Francis Korkpor2013–presentEllen Johnson Sirleaf