The former Chief Justice Francis Korkpor was unexpectedly denied the right to vote at the Liberian National Bar Association’s recently held election in Ganta, Nimba County.
Like all others with voting anxiety, Cllr. Korkpor went to vote the candidates of his choice but the voter’s register did not reflect the name of the former chief justice apparently, he did not register, which was the first and foremost requirement to vote.
The election, which ran from 1 PM to 5 PM, was lauded for its exceptional organization, marking it as one of the most well-conducted elections in the history of the Bar Association.
The former chief justice stood outside the venue hall with some of his colleagues with an expression of disappointment after being denied entry to vote.
During and up to the end of his tenure as Chief Justice, Korkpor was a regular participant in Bar Association’s elections and activities but according to information, he recently withdrew from such activity for unspoken reasons.
The denial of his voting rights was attributed to his failure to maintain good standing, which is a serious a requirement to enable a member to vote and or be voted for.
An election official explained that although Korkpor is a licensed lawyer, he did not pay his convention fee, which is necessarily a driving force to maintain good standing.
Some lawyers who preferred anonymity suggested that the former chief justice took advantage of his status who he thought my have been an entitlement to vote regardless of his dues, but that was not the case.
All other Associate Justices and former Associate Justices present were able to vote, including the Chief Justice, who attended the opening ceremony of the convention the previous day before her departure.
