MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has nominated Associate Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, pending confirmation by the Liberian Senate. The announcement, made on Monday, June 30, 2025, follows the constitutional retirement of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, who reached the mandatory retirement age of seventy on June 26.
In a formal communication to the Senate, President Boakai invoked Article 54(c) of the 1986 Constitution, which empowers the President to appoint the Chief Justice and other judicial officers, and Article 72(b), which requires the retirement of justices upon attaining the age of seventy. Describing Justice Gbeisay as a “distinguished jurist,” President Boakai praised his integrity, legal acumen, and steadfast commitment to the rule of law.
“The Honorable Associate Justice Gbeisay has demonstrated exemplary integrity, profound legal acumen, and commitment to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution,” Boakai stated in his nomination letter. He urged the Senate to give the nomination prompt consideration and confirmation to ensure continuity at the helm of the judiciary.
Justice Gbeisay’s elevation to Chief Justice, if approved, will build upon his long service within Liberia’s judiciary. His appointment would also come at a critical time as the Boakai administration emphasizes institutional reform and the strengthening of judicial independence.
Chief Justice Yuoh’s retirement brings to a close her more than two-year tenure as head of the Supreme Court, during which she was recognized for advancing judicial independence and constitutional governance. Appointed in 2022 by former President George M. Weah, Justice Yuoh was the second woman to serve as Chief Justice in the nation’s history.
As the judiciary prepares for this transition, President Boakai has reiterated his call for all government officials to exhibit professionalism, integrity, and dedication to public service.
