Emmanuel Gbalazeh
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel N. Gbalazeh served as the 16th Chief Justice
of Liberia
from 1988 until the collapse of the Liberian government in September 1990. He had previously served as the Chief Justice of the People's Supreme Court under the People's Redemption Council
from 1980 to 1986.
Born in Sanniquellie
, Nimba County
, Gbalazeh studied at the University of Liberia
before earning his LL.B. at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law
. He served as a Circuit Court judge in Nimba Country from 1967 to 1969, and later served as Assistant Minister of Justice in the Tolbert administration from 1972 to 1974 before entering private practice.
Following the suspension of the Liberian Constitution
as a result of a military coup in April 1980, Gbalazeh was appointed Chief Justice of the newly formed People's Supreme Court by the ruling People's Redemption Council. Gbalazeh swore in the newly elected President Samuel Doe
on 6 January 1986 and stepped down on 15 January during the transition from military to civilian rule. Following the impeachment of Chief Justice Chea Cheapoo
in December 1988, Doe nominated Gbalazeh to replace him as Chief Justice. He was confirmed and sworn in on 28 January 1988.
As a result of the outbreak of the First Liberian Civil War and the execution of Samuel Doe
in September 1990, the Government of Liberia collapsed, and Gbalazeh vacated his position. He died on 2 April 2009.
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:...
of Liberia
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...
from 1988 until the collapse of the Liberian government in September 1990. He had previously served as the Chief Justice of the People's Supreme Court 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...
from 1980 to 1986.
Born in Sanniquellie
Sanniquellie
Sanniquellie is a city and the capital of Nimba County and Sanniquellie-Mah District, Liberia. It is located in the north-east of the country at coordinates 07°21'49" N 008°42'40" W...
, Nimba County
Nimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central 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 six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
, Gbalazeh studied at the University of Liberia
University of Liberia
The University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as Liberia College and became a university in 1951. The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning...
before earning his LL.B. at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law
Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law
Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law is the law school of the University of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia. Founded in 1951, it is named after former Chief Justice of the Liberian Supreme Court, Louis Arthur Grimes. The school offers a three-year program leading to the granting of the Bachelor of Laws...
. He served as a Circuit Court judge in Nimba Country from 1967 to 1969, and later served as Assistant Minister of Justice in the Tolbert administration from 1972 to 1974 before entering private practice.
Following the suspension of the Liberian Constitution
Liberian Constitution of 1847
The Liberian Constitution of 1847 was the first constitution of Liberia. Largely modeled on the Constitution of the United States, it remained in effect from its adoption on 26 July 1847 until its suspension by the People's Redemption Council on 12 April 1980....
as a result of a military coup in April 1980, Gbalazeh was appointed Chief Justice of the newly formed People's Supreme Court by the ruling People's Redemption Council. Gbalazeh swore in the newly elected 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...
on 6 January 1986 and stepped down on 15 January during the transition from military to civilian rule. Following the impeachment of Chief Justice Chea Cheapoo
Chea Cheapoo
Chea Job Cheapoo, Sr. is a Liberian 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....
in December 1988, Doe nominated Gbalazeh to replace him as Chief Justice. He was confirmed and sworn in on 28 January 1988.
As a result of the outbreak of the First Liberian Civil War and the execution of 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...
in September 1990, the Government of Liberia collapsed, and Gbalazeh vacated his position. He died on 2 April 2009.