Chief Justice Youh Reaches 70—Stays in Office Until Every Case She Began is Resolved

Chief Justice Youh

Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh is set to reach Liberia’s mandatory judicial retirement age of 70 on June 26, 2025. However, she will not immediately step down from her position. Instead, as stipulated by Article 72(b) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, she will remain in office until every case she began before her 70th birthday is resolved.

“Any Justice of the Supreme Court or any Judge presiding over any court of record who has attained the age of seventy years shall retire from office, but a justice or judge who has attained that age may continue in office for as long as may be necessary to enable him to render judgment or perform any other judicial duty in any proceeding already commenced before him.”~Article 72(b).

This constitutional clause is rare by global standards and serves a vital purpose—it ensures that cases are concluded by the same justices who heard them, preventing disruption and safeguarding litigants’ rights. The provision also protects the judiciary from abrupt administrative changes that could undermine the integrity of ongoing proceedings.

Chief Justice Yuoh’s situation is not unprecedented. Both Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor, Sr., who retired in 2022, and Associate Justice Philip A.Z. Banks, III, who retired in 2018, remained in office past their 70th birthdays to finish pending cases. This has established a consistent tradition in Liberia’s Supreme Court, reinforcing the principle that justice should not be left unfinished due to administrative timelines.

Appointed as Liberia’s third female Chief Justice in September 2022, Yuoh’s tenure has been marked by landmark rulings and intense scrutiny. She has presided over high-profile political disputes, including the recent leadership crisis in the House of Representatives, which has proven to be one of the most contentious cases during her tenure.

In her final address to the judiciary, Yuoh emphasized the solemn duty of the bench and her commitment to upholding the rule of law with integrity. She also acknowledged criticism of the Supreme Court’s decisions, particularly in politically charged cases, and extended an apology to those who felt aggrieved by the Court’s rulings. “We are aware that our opinions have been met with criticism, oftentimes what I considered bias, particularly in cases where political figures are involved,” she said. “As we continue this important work, I extend my deepest sympathy to those who may feel aggrieved and unsatisfied with our decisions”.

Her retirement arrives at a critical moment for Liberia’s judiciary, which faces mounting pressure to demonstrate its independence and rebuild public confidence. As the nation prepares for this transition, attention is focused on the appointment of the next Chief Justice. A politically driven selection could push the judiciary deeper into crisis, undermining its independence and turning it into an object of ridicule.

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Additional Sources

Liberian Constitution, Article 72(b)FrontPage Africa – Chief Justice Yuoh to Stay Past RetirementDaily Observer – Tradition of Justices Staying Past RetirementThe Bush Chicken – Chief Justice Yuoh’s Legacy and TransitionLiberia Public Radio – Yuoh’s Farewell Address