Francis Korkpor

Francis Korkpor, Sr. is a Liberian lawyer and jurist. He has been the Chief Justice of Liberia since 2013.[1][2]

Early life and education

Born in the town of Zao, Lao Clan, Nimba County, Liberia, Chief Justice Korkpor's career in public service and the law spans over three decades and includes service as a private lawyer, prosecutor, and Supreme Court Justice.

He earned his bachelor of arts at the University of Liberia in 1976 before going on to earn his criminal justice degree from the North Carolina Justice Academy in the United States of America from 1977-1978. He returned to Liberia after completing his criminal justice program and enrolled at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of law, University of Liberia where he graduated in 1982 with a bachelor of laws degree.[3]

Career

Korkpor entered government as a prosecuting attorney in 1982, the same year he graduated from the Law School. While serving at the Ministry of Justice, he aggressively prosecuted repeated offenders, violent criminals, and public officials who committed ethical defilements or indecencies. His untiring work as a prosecutor in the Department of Litigation earned him promotion to the posts of Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs in 1985 and Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs in 1988, respectively. He served in the latter position until the beginning of the civil war, which made him to travel to the United States of America where he pursued advanced legal education.

Having gained experience in practice as a Counsellor during the early 1980s, Chief Justice Korkpor resigned from government and established the Tiala Law Firm in Monrovia. As a busy private lawyer, Chief Justice Korkpor was a testament to his ability to provide sound legal services to the people of Liberia especially human rights organizations and journalists who were targets of the erstwhile government of President Charles G. Taylor. He also represented the legal interests of several other organizations like the Catholic Church of Liberia. During the period of private practice, Chief Justice Korkpor established himself as one of Liberia’s foremost legal minds and built partnerships and maintains collegiality within the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA).

Chief Justice Korkpor has five children; four sons and a daughter- Francis Jr., Tom-Wesley, Michael, Wuo-Victor and Tiala. He also has three grandchildren...

Chief Justice Korkpor has pursued a reform agenda for strengthening the third branch of the Liberian government in a number of key areas:

Legal experience

Nominated and confirmed in April 2013; seating on April 18, 2013

Education

Professional

Personal

Born in Zao Town, Lao Clan, Nimba County, Liberia and raised in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, Liberia

Religious Organizations

Children

Francis Jr., Tom-Wesley, Michael, Tiala, Wuo-Victor

References

  1. ↑ "Appointment of Liberia’s Acting Chief Justice Questioned". Voice of America. September 14, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Chief Justice Korkpor's mother laid to rest". Insight Newspaper. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Associate Justice Francis Korkpor Tipped as Chief Justice Ad Interim of Liberia". FrontPage Africa. September 12, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Johnnie Lewis		 Chief Justice of Liberia
2013–present 		Next:
incumbent
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