By: Konah Rufus

Contact: +231881123132/ +231777143409

Email: konahrufus01@gmail.com

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor has dismissed rumors that he is likely to be President George Weah’s pick for vice standard-bearer in the 2023 presidential elections.

The Chief Justice dispelled the speculation at the opening of the Supreme Court for its March 2021 Term of Court.

In his opening address Chief Justice Korkpor stated that it is incumbent on all Liberians to protect and preserve the sanctity and dignity of their public institutions, especially institutions such as the Supreme Court which is a direct creature of the Constitution.

He said people who are in leadership at these institutions are transient managers, adding that some of them will soon fade out but the institution will remain forever so, it is the institution and not those in leadership that really matters.

Chief Justice Korkpor went on to say that this is why the Supreme Court Justices welcome constructive criticisms on the Opinions they deliver.

He said, constructive criticism of the Court is good for the development of the court system. He said, it is wrong when “one’s emotion flowing from sheer hatred against or political conjecture about the head of an institution is allowed to becloud his/her judgment when criticizing the institution”.

Chief Justice Korkpor said, for about two years now, there have been systematic and orchestrated pattern of vicious lies and verbal attacks directed at him to besmear his character.

He told he legal luminaries present at the opening of the Court that he had ignored all such attacks and remained silent and focused “but when lies, speculations and innuendos reach a point to have the propensity of affecting the credibility of the institution one heads, then it becomes necessary for one to speak out.”

Chief Justice Korkpor: “It was reported and widely circulated that I am to be the Vice Presidential running mate to President George Weah in 2023 therefore my judicial actions and decisions are influenced by my political inclinations, this report is untrue, farfetched and ludicrous, I stand by all judgments, I sign as a justice of this court of last resort to be correct based on how I understand the facts and applicable laws in any given case, I have no doubt that my colleagues do the same.”

Chief Justice Korkpor said he never had any talk with President Weah, his political party or any other person or political party concerning being presidential running mate.

“On my retirement from the Supreme Court on September 5, 2022, I will go into private life and will seek no elective office. If at that time, I am still in good health by the grace of God, I will serve my community, church and country in other capacities,” said Chief Justice Korkpor.