Liberia: Chief Justice Korkpor Delivers Farewell Message Today

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor is expected to deliver his farewell message today, September 27, as he steps down from the Supreme Court Bench.

Korkpor announced his retirement from the Supreme Court Bench earlier this year after he shall have reached the retirement age of 70, as of September 5. 

President George Weah, together with several government officials, dignitaries, judges and justices, ambassadors, senior lawyers, and members of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) will attend the retirement ceremony. 

On April 18, 2013, Korkpor, was 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. 

Korkpor has been on the Supreme Court bench since 2004, during the administration of the National Transitional Government of Liberia. 

At the time, Korkpor was appointed to the Supreme Court of Liberia as Associate Justice for the period of two years, a position to which he was nominated and subsequently reappointed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf upon assuming the Presidency of the Country in 2006.  

From his 9 years as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, according to judicial analysts, Korkpor's parting message will highlight the achievements made under his leadership, particularly the construction of judicial complexes, in six of the 15 counties, and several other magisterial courts.

The judicial complexes include Gbarnga, Bong County; Bopolu, Gbarpolu County; Greenville, Sinoe County; Sanniquellie, Nimba County; Tubmanburg, Bomi County; and Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

The magisterial courts are in Botota, Bong County; Vahun, Lofa County; the Omega Tower Area, Paynesville City, Montserrado County; and Kanplay, Nimba County. These courts were constructed with funds provided by the Swedish Government through the Justice and Security Trust Fund.

Korkpor, began his public and professional services at the Ministry of Justice, where he was first recruited as a Research Coordinator immediately upon obtaining his BA degree from the University of Liberia. 

His service at the Ministry also witnessed his rise to leadership positions within the government of Liberia, specifically serving as Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs, Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs, and then Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs. 

Due to the civil war in Liberia, like many other Liberians, Korkpor left the country in 1990. He however returned in 1991 and went into private law practice. 

He established the Tiala Law Associates, Inc. and, for about 13 consecutive years, served as its Managing Director. 

Notable amongst the clients he worked for was the Catholic Church in Liberia and its affiliate institutions. He was also a member of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, a human rights organization, and, for many years, served as its Chairman of the Board of Directors.