By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
As an old adage goes, ‘never you forget about your root and neither you can be in the water and say you are thirsty or you are sharing food and forget about yourself’. Such is the case with the outgoing Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Francis Saye Korkpor, a native of the northeastern Nimba County, who has said his county has got the lion’s share of the Judiciary in terms of infrastructure, appointment of judges, among others.
With a total of nineteen years of service to the Liberian Judiciary, Justice Korkpor made the disclosure during a program recently held in his honor in Nimba County’s capital, Sanniquellie held by the Nimba Bar Association. It was done in association with the 8th Judicial Circuit Court at the Sanniquellie City hall on Sunday August 7,2022.
His honouring program comes weeks before his tenure of Supreme Court Chief Justice is due to expire in September this year.
According to the Liberian Chief Justice, “whenever people see the need to recognize your services or work nationally or by your people, it means you have played your part that really touched many.”
Chief Justice Korkpor speaking in Nimba
Justice Korkpor added that when one’s own people thanked him for a job well done, it brings special feeling and that his honoring by his people was a very special one for him to forever remember.
“Over the years, I have provided National service to the Liberian Judiciary and improve access to justice, effected some changes throughout his county and Liberia at large during his nineteen years stay at the Judiciary. Judiciary service in Nimba County has improved with infrastructures in Karnplay, Duo, Saclepea especially the Judicial complex built in Sanniquellie City and several other parts of Nimba County,” Justice Korkpor said in a visible happy mood.
The outgoing Chief Justice revealed that whatever steps one takes while serving at the Judiciary was within the confines of the law, something he said wasn’t bread or butter.
Justice Korkpor served the Judy Bryant Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG) administration for two years, twelve years during the Ellen Johnson administration and five years with the George Weah administration which nineteen unbroken years at the Judiciary.
The head of the Supreme Court referred to his county, Nimba as “super county”, adding that as he retired from public service, he will not be tired of working for his people.
Justice Korkpor (Left) displaying his award Justice Korkpor (Right) receiving gifts
He announced that he will resides in Nimba County to be a help to his people and to also help to provide whatever legal advice that people may need from him.
“I will forever remember the Nimba County Bar and the 8th Judicial Circuit Court for honoring my service,” Justice Korkpor who shortly turns age 70, concluded.
Nimba Bar says Korpkor’s retirement historic
For his part, the Nimba County Bar Association President, Cllr. J. Awia Vankan said the purpose of honoring Chief Justice Korkpor was already widely known, because of his dedicated services to Nimba and the state as he prepares to retire from the Supreme Court Bench shortly.
Cllr. Vankan pointed out that the Nimba County Bar and the 8th Judicial Circuit Court found it necessary to appreciate Chief Justice Korkpor at such time and not to wait for an unfortunate incident before they can recount his good deeds.
“As the saying goes, give a man his flower while he is alive,” the head of the Nimba Bar added.
According to Cllr. Vankan, they have been informed by their research that it would be the first time in the last fifty-one years in Liberia’s history that a Chief Justice will be honorably retired consistent with constitutional dictates.
The last time a Chief Justice was honorably retired was in 1971, when Chief Justice A. Dash Wilson retired and was succeeded by Chief Justice James A. A. Pierre since then, except for the early retirement of Chief Justice Johnnie N. Lewis in 2012, no Chief Justice has been honorably retired because of unconstitutionally removal of governments and and intern government arrangements.
“We thanked all Liberian for ascribing to the tenets of democracy and supporting the rule of law which enabled our country to achieve this feat that is, the Honorable retirement of a Chief Justice. We hope that our country will remain on this trajectory and allow the constitution and laws of our land to work and function as their drafters intended.”
“We have come to say thank you for the pride your ascendency, retention and promotion to the bench of the Supreme Court brought to our Bar and county,” Nimba Bar president noted.
“We have come to say thank you for your calm, humble, and peaceful demeanor you exhibited as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia despite the castigations, innuendos and insults hauled at you. We have come to say thank you for the construction of the modern Judicial complex equipped with Judge’s residence for the 8th Judicial Circuit Court which enabled the 8th Judicial Circuit to relocate from the small dirt to dirt building within the compound of Nimba County presidential palace; thereby dignifying the court and giving Judicial actors the respectability they deserved. We have come to say thank you for being supportive of our youthful leadership providing guidance and making substantial contributions to the Nimba County Bar projects including being one of the first members to contribute to the construction of the Bar headquarters,” Cllr. Vankan added.
Also speaking on behalf of the Supreme Court of Liberia was Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie who narrated a longstanding traditional value in Liberia that when a child is born in a community, is everybody’s child and such is the case of Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor.
Despite the fact that Chief Justice Korkpor is the head of the Judiciary branch of government, he respected his colleagues on the bench and called him to contribute to the nation in whatever ways.
For his part, the President of the National Trial Judges Association of Liberia Judge, Nancy Sammy of the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Lofa Count lauded the Chief Justice Korkpor for his immense services which she said were understanding.
Judge Sammy noted that during the administration of Chief Justice Korkpor, both he the Chief Justice and Associate justices have never interfered in decisions taken by Judges of subordinate courts.
Honouring preceded by thanksgiving Church service
Prior to the honoring program by the Nimba County Bar and the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, a thanksgiving service was held for him at the St. Mary Catholic Church in Sanniquellie City on Sunday August 7,2022.
Just before the service, the Knight of St. John, the night of Marshall and the Ladies Auxiliaries of the Catholic Church, in which Justice Korkpor is a top member, as he was welcomed with a kola.
Father Octavius P. Flomo, who officiated during the service said Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor performed his responsibilities to the Judiciary as well as to humanity.
The Catholic Church added that Chief Justice Korkpor stood the test of times and also stood tall in the midst of numerous challenges.
Amid the criticisms, God acknowledged his service, the Catholic priest said and added that there was time he sat on cases to decide the life or situation which he was being insulted for.
In the midst of high security risk, Chief Justice Korkpor still stands tall which God has already acknowledged his contributions in society, the priest told the congregation.
Justice Korkpor with some of his colleagues
Father Somba maintained that God doesn’t scandalized on the mistakes but how one wakes up when the mistakes are made.
“As you retired this September, don’t be a silent voice but be a professional echo in society because his contribution is still needed.”
Journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh a son of Nimba was one of those who graced the honourning program
His preaching came from the Bible book of Isaiah 1:17 and Joel 19:25.
Speaking during the service, Chief Justice Korkpor said he was very delighted of his church having thanksgiving service for him which shows togetherness.
The outgoing Liberian Chief Justice added that his character component came from the Catholic Church because he lived throughout with late father Michael Kpala Francis in Sanniquellie, Nimba County during his school days.
He used the occasion to dispell rumors that he doesn’t want to leave, saying that he is very tired after service for nineteen unbroken years and come this October term of court of the Supreme Court, he won’t be there.
Also during the honoring program, he was gowned with a traditional country cloth suit, while his St. Mary Alumni presented gift to him including daughters of the mountain and several organizations presented gifts as their way of remembering his services.
Both the thanksgiving service and honoring service were attended by a big crowd including his family members, Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Judges, lawyers, Nimba County Legislative Caucus, residents of the county, former Chief Justice and Jssociate Justices, traditional leaders and Nimba County officials.
The honoring program was climaxed with pomp and pageantry, as the Chief Justice led the crowd in dance with his wife, while Associate Justices danced with judges on the dance floor as beautiful popular music played.