The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, has recounted his numerous achievements as head of the High Court for a period of ten (10) years.
Chief Justice Francis Korkpor was appointed to head the Supreme Court bench when the late Chief Justice Johnny Lewis resigned in 2012.
“At the helm of the Judiciary, my colleagues and I have worked assiduously to improve conditions in the Judiciary,” Chief Justice Korkpor said Monday, March 14, during the opening of the Court for its March term A. D. 2022.
“We have constructed additional judicial complexes in Barclayville, Grand Kru County; Zewdru, Grand Gedeh Count; Sanniquellie, Nimba County; and Tubmanburg, Bomi County, which are in full use today.
“Currently, judicial complexes are being constructed in Fish town, River Gee County, and Cestos City, Rivercess County. A judicial complex is a structure consisting of several court facilities such as the circuit court, debt court, labor court, tax court, revenue court, traffic court and Magistrate court etc. A judicial complex also has offices for the county attorney, public defender Andrew probation and parole officers.”
According to the Chief Justice, the availability of many courts and offices of judicial actors in one central location promotes easy access to justice.
He said they have built many magisterial courts throughout the country, either with direct funding from the Government of Liberia (GOL) or development partners.
He mentioned that the office of the court administrator has been improved and invigorated; three new sections, the Inspectorate Section, the Public Affairs Section and the Project Section have been created for efficiency and productivity.
The Chief Justice noted that the Professional Magistrate Training Programs has been successfully conducted. The objective of the program is to train and deploy a total of 300 college graduates as associate magistrates. “The program has proved to be highly successful in enhancing the knowledge of the law and performance of associate magistrates, who man our courts of first instance,” he stated.
“We established the Magistrates Sitting Program at the Monrovia Central Prison aimed at curbing or minimizing prolonged detention without trial. The program is yielding fruitful results; we are seeking funding to replicate it in other parts of the country,” he noted.
Chief Justice Korkpor said they have established a national jury office at the Temple of Justice with sub-offices in parts of the country, they are working to establish other sub-offices in the entire country In accordance with the New jury law.
He also added that over the years they have steadily provided increment in the salaries and remuneration of judges and judicial workers. “While the take-home pay of judges and judicial workers are yet not at a level satisfactory, especially given the application of what is know as ‘harmonization’ policy, we can say with pride that there has been some marked improvement. This is making the Judiciary an attractive place to work,” Chief Justice Korkpor maintained.
At long last they have the pension law working for retired justices and judges. “All justices and judges who have honorably retired are today receiving pension benefits through the Judiciary without hindrance.
“These are just a few of the reform programs and projects we have undertaken since my incumbency as Chief Justice. The implementation of these programs and projects would not have been possible without the support of a number of persons and institutions. To them they are very grateful. In this regard, I thank the former President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for her show of confidence in me, especially for appointing me as Chief Justice. This is the highest honor one can receive in the legal profession.
“I further thank her for providing support to the Judiciary during her administration. I also thank President George M. Weah for his administration’s support to the Judiciary,” he observed.