Chea Cheapoo
Encyclopedia
Chea Job Cheapoo, Sr. is a Liberia
n politician
who served as the 15th Chief Justice of Liberia
from July 1987 until his impeachment and removal from office on December 2 of that year.
Cheapoo served in the late 1970s as a Senator
from Grand Gedeh County
. At that time, he also served as the head councilor for the Progressive Alliance of Liberia
, an opposition party later outlawed by President William Tolbert. Following the overthrow of the Tolbert government in a 1980 coup, Cheapoo was appointed Attorney General in April 1980 under the People's Redemption Council
regime. However, Cheapoo was removed from his position and arrested in September 1981 after being accused of stockpiling arms without permission of the PRC.
Following the resignation of Chief Justice James N. Nagbe
in June 1987, Cheapoo was appointed by President Samuel Doe
as Chief Justice. However, he was impeached, convicted and removed from on December 2, 1987 by the Legislature
on charges of violating the Constitution
while in office. Cheapoo is the only Chief Justice to have ever been impeached and, with a term of less than five months, served the shortest term of office in Liberian history.
Cheapoo later participated in the 1997 general elections as the head of the Progressive People's Party
. As the party's candidate for president, Cheapoo won only 0.34% of the vote, while the party failed to win any seats in the Legislature.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the 15th Chief Justice of Liberia
Chief Justice of Liberia
The Chief Justice of Liberia is the head of the judicial branch of the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of Liberia.-Appointment and term:...
from July 1987 until his impeachment and removal from office on December 2 of that year.
Cheapoo served in the late 1970s as a Senator
Senate of Liberia
The Senate of Liberia is the upper house of the bicameral legislative branch of Liberia, and together with the House of Representatives comprises the Legislature of Liberia...
from Grand Gedeh County
Grand Gedeh County
Grand Gedeh is a county in the eastern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has three districts. Zwedru serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
. At that time, he also served as the head councilor for the Progressive Alliance of Liberia
Progressive Alliance of Liberia
In 1975 the Progressive Alliance of Liberia became the first legally recognized opposition party in Liberia since the country was founded. The party was initially formed among the Liberian diaspora in the United States and was led by Gabriel Baccus Matthews who espoused a quasi-Marxist ideology...
, an opposition party later outlawed by President William Tolbert. Following the overthrow of the Tolbert government in a 1980 coup, Cheapoo was appointed Attorney General in April 1980 under the People's Redemption Council
People's Redemption Council
The People's Redemption Council was a military regime that governed Liberia during the early 1980s. It was established after the military coup of April 12, 1980, in which Samuel Doe, who served as chairman of the Council, seized power. Apart from Doe, the Council consisted of 17 soldiers...
regime. However, Cheapoo was removed from his position and arrested in September 1981 after being accused of stockpiling arms without permission of the PRC.
Following the resignation of Chief Justice James N. Nagbe
James N. Nagbe
James Nagbe Nagbe served as the 14th Chief Justice of Liberia from 1986 until his resignation in 1987.Nagbe represented Montserrado County during the 1983 Constitutional Convention to draft a new constitution for the country due to the previous constitution's suspension after the 1980 coup...
in June 1987, Cheapoo was appointed by President Samuel Doe
Samuel Doe
Samuel Kanyon Doe was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland...
as Chief Justice. However, he was impeached, convicted and removed from on December 2, 1987 by the Legislature
Legislature of Liberia
The Legislature of Liberia is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives , in the same manner as the Congress of the United States....
on charges of violating the Constitution
Constitution of Liberia
The Constitution of Liberia is the supreme law of the Republic of Liberia. The current constitution, which came into force on 6 January 1986, replaced the Liberian Constitution of 1847, which had been in force since the independence of Liberia...
while in office. Cheapoo is the only Chief Justice to have ever been impeached and, with a term of less than five months, served the shortest term of office in Liberian history.
Cheapoo later participated in the 1997 general elections as the head of the Progressive People's Party
Progressive People's Party (Liberia)
The Progressive People's Party is a political party in Liberia. It participated in the 1997 elections, but its current status is unclear, as it did not field candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections....
. As the party's candidate for president, Cheapoo won only 0.34% of the vote, while the party failed to win any seats in the Legislature.