CHIEF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF ASSOCIATE JUSTICE BANKS (20/06/2018)

Justice Philip A.Z. Banks, III

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. has announced the retirement of Justice Philip A.Z. Banks, III from service as Associate Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia effective August 2018, at the close of the March A.D. 2018 Term of the Honorable Supreme Court.

Article 72 (b) of the Liberian Constitution (1986) provides “The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of subordinate courts of record shall be retired at the age if seventy; provided, however, that a justice or judge who has attained that age may continue in office for as long as may be necessary to enable him to render judgment or perform any other judicial duty in regard to proceedings entertained by him before he attained that age.”

According to a judiciary press release, the Chief Justice emphasized that even though Associate Justice Banks attained the retirement age of 70 on Monday June 18, 2018, Justice Banks is required to continue in office until the end of the March A. D. 2018 Term of Court to enable him perform judicial responsibilities assigned to him prior to his 70^th birthday as provided for by the Constitution of Liberia (1986).

Associate Justice Banks currently chairs the Judiciary Inquiry Commission, the statutory body of the Supreme Court responsible to investigate complaints against judges and magistrates of the Judiciary Branch of Government and is also expected to hand down opinions of the Supreme Court at the close of this term of Court.

Chief Justice Korkpor also expressed heartfelt appreciate to Associate Justice Banks for his dedication, commitment and immeasurable service to the Judiciary Branch of Government in particular, and the Republic of Liberia in general, during his tenure on the Supreme Court Bench as Associate Justice; and prayed for God’s continuous guidance and blessings upon Associate Justice Banks in his future endeavors.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, on behalf of the Associate Justices, Judges and the entire Judiciary Branch of Government, wished Associate Justice Philip A. Z. Banks, III, a very Happy and Blissful 70^th Birthday and prayed for God’s continuous blessings upon his life and future endeavors; intimating that an appropriate retirement program will be organized at the close of this TERM of Court.