Monrovia, Liberia – With the impending retirement of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh in June 2025, President Joseph Boakai is facing a pivotal decision that will shape the future of Liberia’s judiciary. The selection of a new Chief Justice is not just a procedural matter; it’s a critical choice that will determine the direction of the Supreme Court and its influence on the rule of law in Liberia for years to come.
Justice Yuoh, who has served on the Supreme Court since 2014 and as Chief Justice since 2022, is set to step down, leaving a significant void in the highest court. Her retirement has sparked intense speculation and lobbying efforts, with legal experts and political analysts weighing in on the potential candidates.
The Liberian constitution grants the President the power to nominate a Chief Justice, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate. This process allows both the Executive and Legislative branches to play a critical role in shaping the composition of the judiciary.
Several names have been circulating as potential contenders for the coveted position. These include:
- Associate Justices of the Supreme Court:Â Traditionally, the President often considers the serving Associate Justices as potential candidates, bringing a wealth of experience and familiarity with the court’s operations. The current Associate Justices are being closely scrutinized for their legal acumen, administrative capabilities, and judicial philosophy.
- Prominent Lawyers and Judges:Â Outside the Supreme Court, accomplished lawyers and judges with strong reputations are also likely to be considered. These individuals often bring fresh perspectives and a proven track record in different areas of the legal system.
- Academics and Legal Scholars:Â While less common, the President could also opt for a respected academic or legal scholar who possesses profound legal knowledge and a commitment to judicial reform.
“This is a crucial appointment for President Boakai,” stated public philosopher, public policy professional and scholar Jones N. Williams. “The Chief Justice plays a vital role in upholding the constitution, ensuring fair trials, and resolving disputes impartially. It is even more crucial because international investors look up the quality and leadership of the Supreme Court to inspire their investment confidence. The President must choose someone with integrity, a deep understanding of the law, and the ability to lead the judiciary effectively.”
The selection process is expected to be closely watched by civil society organizations, international partners, and the Liberian public. Concerns have been raised about the potential for political interference and the need for transparency in the nomination process. The current Supreme Court’s bench includes the following justices.
“We urge President Boakai to prioritize merit, competence, and impartiality in his selection,” said a leading member of the Liberia National Bar Association who spoke on condition of anonymity to preserve his impartiality as a senior member of the bar. “The next Chief Justice must be someone who is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all Liberians.”
As the deadline for Justice Yuoh’s retirement approaches, the pressure on President Boakai is mounting. His choice will not only define the future of the Supreme Court but will also have a significant impact on the overall stability and development of Liberia. The nation awaits his decision with anticipation and a keen awareness of the importance of this critical appointment. Other names being mentioned for potential Supreme Court’s appointment are Counsellor Benedict F. Sannoh, a former Minister of Justice; Counsellor T. Negbalee Warner, regarding as an integrity icon and bright legal mind nationally; Counsellor N. Oswald Tweh, current Minister of Justice; Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods, renowned human rights lawyer and current National Security Advisor; and Attorney Rhonda Weeks -Brown, a Harvard Law School graduate, former General Counsel and Director of the legal Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, DC.
Counsellor Benedict F. Sannoh – The Senior Managing Counsel of the Firm, Counsellor Benedict F. Sannoh is a member of the Bar of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia in good standing with over thirty-seven (37) years of solid legal experience at both local and international levels.  He is currently an Assistant Professor of Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, where he teaches Contract Law, Negotiable Instruments and Secured Transactions. Â
Cllr. Sannoh was Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Liberia from 2014 until April 2016, when he resigned to return to private practice. Immediately prior to becoming Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Cllr. Sannoh served as Deputy Minister of Justice for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Justice for three (3) years.
With more than twenty-three (23) years of experience as a lawyer, Cllr. Warner has extensive knowledge and practice in Liberian law. A member of the Cornell Law Journal while pursuing graduate studies, Cllr. Warner specializes in commercial, corporate and property law, and teaches legal writing, commercial law, and property law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, where he has been a member of faculty since 2008 and also did serve as Dean from 2016 to 2022.
Counsellor T. Negbalee Warner – Counsellor T. Negbalee Warner holds law degrees from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and Cornell Law School and obtained admission to the Liberian Bar and the New York Bar in 2000 and 2003, respectively.
Some of the laws drafted by Cllr. Warner, which have in fact been enacted (and therefore in the public domain) include (1) the Act Establishing the Governance Commission; (2) The Act Establishing the Anti-Corruption Commission; (3) The Act Establishing the Liberia Extractive Industries Initiative; (4) the Liberia Freedom of Information Act; (5) The Act Establishing the Commercial Court of Liberia; (6) The Liberia Commercial Code, and (7) the Land Right Act of 2018, etc.
Cllr. Warner maintains a balanced interest and role in civil society activism, private legal practice, and public service, including extensive board experience. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ecobank Liberia, Chairman of the Transparency International (TI) Chapter in Liberia- the Center for Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), and a member of the Board of CSquared Liberia LLC. His previous directorships include service as Chairman of the Board of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, member of the Board of Access Bank Liberia Limited, Activa International Insurance Company (Liberia) Ltd, Diaconia Microfinance Deposit-taking institution, Open Society in West Africa (OSIWA), the international Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods is a Liberian human rights activist, journalist, politician and academic. A former Minister of Labor and Minister of Public Works during the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the current National Security Advisor in the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
As head of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission in the early 1990s, he won the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1994 and received the Pope’s human rights medal. Woods graduated with a Master of Arts in Development Studies, and a specialization International Law and Organization for Development at the International Institute of Social Studies under Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague, Netherlands.
Woods’ challenge is that he is not a member of the Supreme Court bar. But he could be granted a dispensation, if appointed.
Counsellor N. Oswald Tweh – Counsellor Tweh is a brilliant lawyer with maturity and a decent temperament and understanding of the law, a Harvard Law School graduate and the current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia.
His career history includes: Assistant Professor of Law, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, 1992-1996; Managing Partner, Brumskine& Associates, 1991-1999; Member, National Board of Bar Examiners, Supreme Court of Liberia, 1994-1996/February 2004 to 2014; Member, Board of Directors, Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC), 1994-1995; Member, Tax Commission of Liberia, 1999; Member, Grievance & Ethics Committee, Supreme Court of Liberia, 2002 to 2013; Chairman, Board of Directors, Industrial Property Office, 2005 to 2012; Chairman, Provisional Board of Directors, Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC), February 2006 to September 2007; Member, Judicial Inquiry Commission, Supreme Court of Liberia, 2006 to 2008; Co-Chairman, Judicial Training Institute Steering Committee, Supreme Court of Liberia, 2007 to 2008; Member Board of Directors of the Liberian National Oil Company, 2009 to 2010; Member, Executive Council of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, 2009 to February 2011; Member, Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church, 2012 to the present; for President, Liberia Chamber of Commerce, 2021 until his appointment as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
His main challenge and downsize are a cross section of Liberians allegedly perceived him as too cozy with some generally ‘despised’ foreign businesspeople in the country, having spent decades in private practice as a corporate lawyer and as a former president of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce. While he is well respected, he has to allay the skepticism of Liberians.
Rhoda Weeks–Brown – Rhoda Weeks-Brown is a Liberian economist and lawyer who once served as the General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She was appointed to that position by the IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, on 30 July 2018. Weeks–Brown, who previously served as Deputy General Counsel at the IMF, assumed her new position on Monday 17 September 2018.
She is the daughter of the late Rocheforte Lafayette Weeks, the lawyer/politician who served as the president of the University of Liberia and Fannie Elizabeth Thompson-Goll, of Maryland County, Liberia.
Like former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris with whom she shares a Sorority, Attorney Weeks-Brown studied at Howard University, in Washington, DC, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. In 1991, along with the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, she was awarded the Juris Doctor degree, by the Harvard University Law School.
Following law school, Weeks-Brown worked for several years at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, specializing in financial institutions regulatory matters, while there.
She joined the legal department at the International Monetary Fund in 1997. Over the years, she rose through the ranks to become Deputy Legal Counsel in 2010. She then joined the Fund’s Communications Department in 2012 as Deputy Director.
She replaced Sean Hagan, who led the legal team at the IMF from 1990 until 2018. He is expected to join academia, when he retires from the IMF at the end of October 2018.
Rhoda Weeks-Brown brings unmatched international credibility to a country seeking to build international confidence and trust, as well as connections to international institutions and the world at large. Her challenge is that it would appear she is not a member of the Supreme Court of Liberia’s bar and may not have practiced law in the country. But if President Boakai and the Liberian Senate commit to the promise of attracting Diaspora Liberians with talents, skills and competence to contribute to their native land, that would not be an issue. After all, that is what is making other African nations like Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda, etc. to excel.
