Liberia’s first female magistrate retires honorably
Liberia’s first female magistrate retires honorably
Her Honor Amymusu K. Jones
On the 3rd day of August 2018, Grand Cape Mount County witnessed the retirement of its Resident Circuit Judge, Her Honor Amymusu K. Jones, after nearly a quarter of a century of dedicated services to Liberia through the Liberian Judiciary.
The 24-year journey saw Judge Jones preside over the Monrovia City Magisterial Court, at the Temple of Justice, as its first female Magistrate; she also served at the Debt Court, Probate Court and other circuits before her preferment to the 5th Judicial Circuit as its Resident Judge. Held in the Courtroom housed by the Administrative Building in Robertsport, the provincial capital of Grand Cape Mount County, the ceremony was graced by all five justices of the Supreme Court, judges, magistrates, judicial workers, government officials, family members and friends of the honoree.
Presenting the retirement certificate to Judge Jones, Associate Justice Philip A. Z. Banks, III, himself retiring in four days, described the honoree as a lover of the law. Justice Banks, in his regularly relaxed tone, thanked the Almighty God for giving Liberia such a person like Judge Amymusu Jones, who served so well and her family for giving her time to have served the Judiciary the way she did.
In remarks, the President of the Grand Cape Mount County Bar Association said, they would miss the retired judge’s quality of knowledge, sense of commitment and class of professionalism demonstrated in the interest of justice and for the good of the county. Cllr. Ousman Feika prayed that Judge Jones’ successor would be an embodiment of the qualities she stood for and a mirrored image of her good and enviable attributes she portrayed in the circuit and the Liberian Judiciary as a whole; and presented to the honoree a beautiful plaque for her immeasurable services.
For their part, the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia represented by Debt Court Judge James E. Jones, raised the issue of adequate retirement benefits for judges. Judge Jones told the gathering that Judges earned their living solely from the judgeship and nothing else; and therefore, needed to be compensated well at retirement if they were to enjoy their retirement and pay for the problems associated with old age.
For his part, the Chief Justice of the Honorable the Supreme Court of Liberia, His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, Sr., expressed happiness upon hearing from county authorities that Retired Judge Jones was a fair-minded person. Chief Justice Korkpor noted that the entire Judiciary had gone to Grand Cape Mount County to celebrate and appreciate the great works of justice, to which Judge Jones had dedicated her life in service to her country. The Chief Justice agreed with Judge James E. Jones that judges needed to be paid well and retired with a package adequate to sustain them when they reach retirement. He however expressed the hope that a recent law passed by the Legislature, though not yet being implemented, will, soon, cure the problem of inadequate pension benefits for judges.
In response to the many praises heaped upon her, Retired Judge Amymusu K. Jones thanked the Judiciary for according her the opportunity to work for her country and people. Judge Jones – first female magistrate in the Republic of Liberia and first female judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit said she was honored to have served the Liberian people and Cape Mountainians.
“There is a stage in every person’s life that he/she has to play a part and prepare to bow down when the stage is about to be closed. The performance in my judicial stage has come to an end and I must bow away for the curtain to close.” She said. She then thanked her family and staff of the 5th Judicial Circuit Court, as well as other local authorities of the county, for their invaluable cooperation while she was in active service.
Before her statement, Associate Justice Yuoh and Justice Wolokolie, the two female Supreme Court Justices, along with the Court Administrator, presented the retiree with gifts from the Judiciary, including a very beautiful plaque with inscription: “THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE SERVICES.”
Retired Judge Amymusu K. Jones replaced the late Resident Circuit Judge, His Honor, Varney D. Cooper of the Fifth Judicial Circuit in April of 2006, serving the circuit for 12 years.
