The Liberian senate has confirmed Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh as the new Chief Justice.
She replaces Francis Saye Korkpor who retires this month after reaching the constitutional limit of 70 years.
Justice Yuoh becomes the third female chief justice in Liberia’s 175 years of existence and the first since 2003.
The judiciary has remained tight-lipped on her age.
She ascends to the top of the judicial system barely 13 months before the next presidential and general elections.
Justice Yuoh was one of two female judges currently in the five-member Supreme Court.
Criminal Court Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, a man, has been nominated to replace her at the court.
Liberia’s previous two female chief justices were Frances Johnson Allison and Gloria Musu Scott.
Educational Background
Her Honor Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh was born in Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia.
She obtained her high school education and a diploma from the St. Teresa’s Convent, a Catholic High School in Monrovia in 1974, thereafter which, she enrolled at the Cuttington University College (CUC), now Cuttington University (CU), in Suakoko, Bong County, in pursuit of her tertiary education where she graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science.
In 1979, Justice Yuoh enrolled at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, where she was trained as a lawyer. In 1981, she completed her law studies at this institution and obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, and was subsequently admitted into the Liberia National Bar Association as an Attorney-At-Law.
Her Honor was also admitted as Counsellor-At-Law of the Supreme Court Bar in 1988.
Public & Professional Service
Associate Yuoh began her public and professional service within the Executive Branch, Republic of Liberia, first at the Ministry of Justice as an Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs from 1983 – 1985, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Coordinator, African Affairs, 1988 – 1990, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) as Corporate Secretary/Assistant Legal Counsel/Secretary, Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) from 2000 – 2003 and lastly at the Law Reform Commission, where she served as Acting Executive Director and Commissioner respectively from July 2011 – April 2013.
She also extended her professional legal services within the private sector where she served as Associate and Legal Counsel at the David A.B. Jallah Law Firm, on Johnson Street, Monrovia Liberia, from 1994 – 2000.
In 2013, Madam Justice Yuoh was nominated, appointed, and subsequently commissioned as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Professional & Social Affiliation
Madam Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh has proudly served as Vice President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) from 1994 – 1998; was a founding member of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) and served as its 1st Vice President from 1997 – 1998; Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) from 2012 – 2013 and also served as President of the Maryland County Local Bar Association in 2013.
Justice Yuoh is married, and she and her husband, are blessed with ten (10) children and two (2) grandchildren.
Source: BBC/ judiciary.gov.lr
