MONROVIA – The Unity Party, slated to assume governance in Liberia starting January 22, 2024, vehemently opposes President George Weah’s nomination of his Minister of Justice to the Supreme Court bench, citing concerns about the timing and the President’s authority to make such appointments, especially in light of a recent directive against employment and spending.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
Seeking to address this matter, the Unity Party has filed a Writ for Prohibition with the Supreme Court, aiming to halt the pending confirmation hearing by the Senate.
According to the Unity Party’s petition, President Weah, on December 18, 2023, issued a directive as part of the Joint Presidential Transition Team’s efforts with President-elect Joseph Boakai. The directive explicitly ordered a freeze on employment, borrowings, and payments exceeding US$10,000.
The crux of the Unity Party’s contention lies in President Weah’s nomination of Cllr. Frank Musa Dean as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on December 26, 2023, a mere 26 days before relinquishing power. This nomination is intended to replace Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe, who had requested early retirement through a letter to the Chief Justice.
In response to these allegations, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, the nominee and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General for the Weah-led government, cited Article 54 of the Constitution to emphasize the President’s appointing powers. Dean argued that a mere directive cannot abrogate a constitutional provision, and he pointed out that Article 2 of the Constitution designates it as the supreme law, not to be superseded by any law or treaty.
Moreover, Dean highlighted that the Presidential Directive was directed at Ministries, Agencies, State Owned Enterprises, etc., and not explicitly at the nomination process for the Supreme Court or the appointment powers of the President.
The Unity Party further contends that Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe’s request for early retirement does not automatically constitute retirement or create a vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench. According to them, Justice Nagbe did not fulfill the minimum 10-year service requirement as stipulated in the New Judiciary Law.
In rebuttal, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean argued that the New Pension Law, which lacks the 10-year provision, amends Section 3 of the Judiciary Law. According to Section 3 of the New Pension Law, a former Chief Justice or Associate Justice, upon honorable retirement to private life and not being gainfully employed by the government, is entitled to a pension equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Chief Justice’s salary, along with additional privileges for the remainder of their life.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, January 3, 2023, issued an assignment for the argument of the case. The case is among several others, including election cases, to be heard in the 17th Day Session of the Court next week Tuesday.