Senate to Go Ahead with Cllr. Dean’s Confirmation -Despite S/Court Stay Order

MONROVIA: In the wake of a stay order said to have been placed on the nomination of Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Judiciary Committee of the Liberian Senate said it will proceed with its legislative function to confirm the nominee today, Thursday, January 4, 2023.

Media reports quoting the Chairman of the committee, Cllr. Varney Sherman said that the notification from the Supreme Court did not stop the senate from performing their legislative function and as such will go ahead as earlier announced for the hearing of Cllr. Dean. The Liberian Senate Committee on Judiciary says it will go ahead with confirmation proceedings for Mr. Musa Dean as a nominee for the position of Associate Justice  on the bench of the Supreme Court regardless of the Supreme Court action.

The Judiciary Committee said though the hearing is slated for 10 am in the morning today, the committee will first hold a meeting before the hearing.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday notified the Senate through the Pro-Temp Albert Chie and Vice president Jewel Howard Taylor, who is the President of the Senate of a Petition from the Unity Party a Petition for prohibition to be placed on the nomination.

The time for the hearing is at 10:00 PM at the capitol building. However, the committee says they will hold a committee meeting before the hearing.

The Unity Party on Tuesday filed a Writ of Prohibition before the Supreme Court against the confirmation of President Weah’s nominee Musa Dean.

On Tuesday Justice In Chambers Jamesetta Wolokollie had issued a stay order on the confirmation of Cllr. Musa Dean as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia  following a Writ of Prohibition filed by the Unity Party, by and through its Chairman, Luther Tarpeh, National Secretary-General Amos Tweh, and all other officials of the Unity Party in Monrovia, against the Liberian Senate, by and through its President, Jewel Howard Taylor, and Protemp Albert T. Chie, as well as the leadership of the Senate and the nominee for the Associate Justice position, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean.

Cllr. Dean, current Justice Minister of Liberia was recently nominated by President George Weah a few hours after Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe announced his early retirement due to poor health.