A prominent Liberian citizen and resident of the United States of America, Dr. Prince Yeakehson, has petitioned the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Her Honor Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, for alleged gross breach of duty, political interference beyond judicial authority and abuse of judicial power.
Dr. Yeakehson’s petition is based on Chief Justice Yuoh’s alleged refusal to attend the President’s State-of-the-Nation Address, an official Constitutional function attended by all branches of government, without legal justification.
He claimed that, by her refusal the Chief Justice failed in her ceremonial and institutional responsibilities, thus neglecting her Constitutional duty. He further claimed that her absence disrupted the established governmental protocol and demonstrated a lack of judicial impartiality and integrity.
According to him, while the Supreme Court had issued a stay order on the removal of the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice personally refusing to attend the address was not a legal requirement but a political statement.
“The refusal to attend sent a political message that undermined the authority of the newly recognized Speaker, thus exceeding Chief Justice’s role as a neutral arbiter. The action violated the doctrine of separation of powers, as it inserted the Judiciary into a legislative dispute in a manner beyond legal interpretation,” Dr. Yeakehson’s impeachment petition observed.
Dr. Yeakehson’s petition, which was done on behalf of the Liberian people, said the Chief Justice’s actions weakened public confidence in the Judiciary, as it created the perception that the court is politically biased. He stated that her “politically motivated” refusal to attend a state function obstructed the normal functioning of government institutions, pointing out that her role is to interpret and uphold the Constitution, not engage in political conflicts or take actions that could delegitimize government operations.
Taking a legal reliance on Article 71 of the 1986 Constitution, Dr. Yeakehson’s petition said, “Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, and pursuant to the Constitutional authority vested in the House of Representatives, the undersigned citizen and representative of the Liberian people respectfully request the following: that this honorable body immediately initiates impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh in accordance with Article 71 of the Liberian Constitution; that the House of Representatives submits Articles of Impeachment (along with the legal and Constitutional justification attached to this impeachment document) to the Senate for trial upon finding sufficient cause, and that the Chief Justice be held accountable for her misconduct, gross breach of duty, and political interference, and if convicted, be removed from office in accordance with Constitutional provisions.”
The petitioner argued that the Republic of Liberia is founded on the rule of law, democracy, and the principles of separation of powers; as such, the Judiciary must remain neutral and independent, not engage in political maneuvering that threatens governance. “The Chief Justice’s refusal to attend the President’s Constitutional address was not a legal necessity but a politically motivated act that compromised judicial neutrality. Such conduct amounts to gross breach of duty and misconduct, warranting her removal from office through impeachment,” he maintained.
The petitioner, therefore, urged the House of Representatives to act in defense of the Constitution and uphold the rule of law by impeaching the Chief Justice for her political interference and abuse of judicial power.
