The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) commends the retired Chief Justice, Francis Korkpor, Sr. for his many years of dedicated and committed services to the Liberian Judiciary.
As Chief Justice Korkpor bided farewell to the Supreme Court yesterday, the group said he will be remembered for presiding over an independent, reliable and effective judiciary.
They recounted how in the Judiciary as Chief Justice, Korkpor initiated and coordinated major policies; carried out infrastructural development and several reforms that have greatly transformed the Liberian Judiciary without fear or favor and in strict adherence to the rule of law.
The Civil Society Network of Liberia recounted the many monumental gains made by the Judiciary under the administration of the retired Chief Justice which according to them were all in an effort to ensure access to justice for all, a basic tenet in peace building and democratic development.
They believed that it was under the watch of Korkpor that the Judiciary engaged in the construction and staffing of new judicial complexes; the renovation, rehabilitation and completion of several other judicial buildings, including magisterial courts for the first time in several political subdivisions (counties) of Liberia; the provision of academic and training initiatives for hundreds of judges and other judicial workers to build capacity; the maintenance of freedom of speech and tolerance, as guaranteed under the Liberian Constitution; increment in the salaries of judges and other judicial workers; amongst others.
The Civil Society Network of Liberia said major decisions taken by the Korkpor’s Bench were independent and just which included the granting of Stay Order on the 2017 Run-Off Presidential Elections to hear complaints against the first round; the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) ruling; rulings in the 2020 Midterm Senatorial elections and the 2021 Representative Elections in Bong and the ruling in Mr. Oliver Dillon case
A deeper review of the Judiciary under Cllr. Korkpor has indeed shown it to be different from previous benches of the Supreme Court as the Supreme Court Bench has rendered transparent justice from an independent standpoint.
