MONROVIA — The passage of time is often imperceptible until a moment of reflection makes its swiftness undeniable. For Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh, that moment arrived as she stood to deliver her final Opening Address for the Supreme Court of Liberia’s March Term of 2025.
“I recall the day I was officially seated as the third female Chief Justice as if it were only yesterday,” she said, reflecting on her tenure. “Then, on October 10, 2022, I delivered my first Opening Address from this very seat as Chief Justice. Today, I sit before you to deliver my final Opening Address in the same capacity.”
With a deep sense of gratitude and mixed emotions, Chief Justice Yuoh acknowledged her journey, spanning years of service on the Bench—first as an Associate Justice and then as Chief Justice. She reminded her audience of the constitutional provision under Article 72(b), which mandates the retirement of justices at the age of seventy. For her, that milestone arrives on June 26, 2025.
“Some of you may be surprised that the woman sitting before you, moving with the confident stride of someone much younger, is approaching this milestone,” she said with a smile. “But yes, indeed, I have—by God’s grace—and I embrace it with humility and joy.”
Her retirement means Liberia will soon see the nomination of a new Chief Justice, an appointment that will be made by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and formally commissioned by the President before the end of 2025.
Reflecting on her career, Chief Justice Yuoh recounted her return to Liberia after fleeing Monrovia’s turmoil, her resumption of legal practice, and the eventual transition into public service. She recalled how some peers viewed her acceptance of the Executive Director position at the Law Reform Commission (LRC) as beneath her status as a seasoned lawyer. But for her, it was a stepping stone. “God was telling me ‘not to despise small beginnings,'” she said, quoting Zechariah 4:10.
Later, she was appointed as a Commissioner at the LRC and found herself on a shortlist of qualified female lawyers considered by then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for key positions. That process led to her nomination as Minister of Labor, but in an unexpected twist, her nomination was withdrawn.
Still, she remained steadfast, serving at the LRC until one Sunday in 2013 when she received an unexpected call from the late Judge Amy Musu Jones. “She excitedly informed me that, according to the radio, I had been nominated as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia,” Yuoh recalled. That nomination came after then-Associate Justice Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. was elevated to Chief Justice.
As an Associate Justice, Yuoh worked alongside Chief Justice Korkpor and fellow justices Kabineh M. Ja’neh, Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie, Philip A.Z. Banks III, and the late Joseph N. Nagbe. Together, they spearheaded judicial reforms, including constructing courts and judicial complexes in Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, Nimba, and Bomi counties, establishing Criminal Court E in Bong and Nimba, and introducing the Magistrate Sitting Program at the Monrovia Central Prison.
When she became Chief Justice, Yuoh promised to rebrand the judiciary under the mantra: “Everyone Do His/Her Work as the Days of Warnings are Over.” She pushed for judicial independence, improved infrastructure, and personnel reforms, ensuring that professionalism replaced the “business-as-usual” culture. She and her fellow justices conducted unannounced visits to magisterial courts to ensure accountability and efficiency within the system.
As she prepares to exit the Bench, Chief Justice Yuoh leaves behind a legacy of judicial transformation. “I remain profoundly thankful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, for guiding me through this remarkable journey,” she said.
Her tenure may be ending, but her impact on Liberia’s legal landscape will be felt long after she has left the Bench.
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