MONROVIA – Attorney Isaac W. Jackson, a political commentator, has publicly called for the resignation of Liberia’s Chief Justice, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, citing allegations of nepotism and judicial misconduct. Jackson’s comments, made on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, followed Chief Justice Gbeisay’s nomination of his son for a magisterial position, an act Jackson described as “evidence that he is unfit to head the judiciary.”
In a detailed statement, Jackson criticized the Chief Justice for allegedly misleading the President of Liberia to advance personal interests and for “distorting and corrupting the law” in the process. He argued that Gbeisay’s defense of his son’s appointment demonstrated a lack of understanding of the legal prohibitions against nepotism, citing Article 5 of the Liberian Constitution and relevant Judicial Canons.
Jackson likened the situation to appointing a flat-earther as a chief scientist, emphasizing the absurdity of having a Chief Justice who does not recognize that nepotism violates both ethical standards and Liberia’s laws. He warned that continuing under Gbeisay’s leadership risks undermining public confidence in the judiciary and potentially plunging the country into a legal crisis.
The attorney also referenced Liberia’s historical revulsion against nepotism, noting that previous administrations, including the Tolbert government, were heavily criticized for similar practices. Jackson said he had submitted a formal complaint to the Ombudsman, urging that the Chief Justice be held accountable for his actions, which he described as an “inchoate offense” and a substantial attempt to subvert laws against nepotism.
Jackson warned that failure to act collectively could make Liberians complicit in what he described as judicial misconduct. Drawing parallels with past judicial failings, including those during the tenure of Justice Emmanuel Gbalazeh and Justice Korpkor, Jackson stressed that public inaction can enable serious violations of law and constitutional principles.
“Without the slightest exaggeration, Justice Gbeisay may laughably go down in the Guinness World Records as the only Chief Justice to openly regard nepotism as justified and falling within the permissible bounds of legal ethics,” Jackson wrote. He concluded that any individual who believes nepotism is permissible under law or ethics has no place in Liberia’s courts and insisted that Chief Justice Gbeisay must resign.
