MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has accepted the resignation of Associate Magistrate-Designate Willeyon Y. Gbeisay of the Paynesville Magisterial Court, ending weeks of public debate over his appointment.
In a letter dated Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Mr. Gbeisay informed the President that he was stepping down in order to continue his legal studies at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. He expressed gratitude for the preferment but emphasized that his decision was made in good faith to avoid public misconceptions and prevent distractions from the Judiciary’s ongoing reforms.
President Boakai acknowledged the resignation and commended Mr. Gbeisay’s commitment to his personal and professional development.
The appointment of Gbeisay, who is the son of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh Gbeisay, sparked sharp criticism from the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia (NATJL). The association raised concerns over the trend of appointing individuals without formal legal training or certification to magistrate positions.
In a September 24, 2025 communication to Chief Justice Gbeisay, NATJL President Judge Nancy Finda Sammy noted that while the Supreme Court had previously encouraged law students to pursue legal education with the promise of future judicial opportunities, recent appointments were undermining this progress. She stressed that the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and the James A.A. Pierre Judicial Training Institute were established to ensure proper recruitment and training of magistrates.
Judge Sammy warned that bypassing these institutions weakens both the credibility of the judiciary and the motivation of aspiring legal professionals. She also listed several individuals allegedly appointed as associate magistrates without the requisite qualifications, including those serving in Nimba, Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, and Lofa counties.
Responding to NATJL on September 28, Chief Justice Gbeisay defended his recommendation, insisting that no law prevents him from putting forward a relative for judicial appointment. He argued that his son’s nomination was based on merit and interest in public service rather than favoritism. “The law does not disqualify him on the basis of relation, nor does it forbid me from exercising my right to recommend. Until NATJL can present a clear violation of law or ethical breach, their concerns remain speculative and unfounded,” he declared.
With Willeyon Gbeisay’s resignation now formalized, the debate over qualifications for judicial appointments is likely to intensify, as legal professionals and civil society continue to demand adherence to established standards in the recruitment of magistrates across the country.
