Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh
Encyclopedia
Umu Hawa Tejan Jalloh is the current Chief Justice
of Sierra Leone
. She was sworn in as Sierra Leone's new Chief Justice on January 26, 2008 after being appointed by president Ernest Bai Koroma
with the approval of the Sierra Leone Parliament to replace outgoing Chief Justice Ade Renner Thomas
. Before being appointed to the position, she was a Supreme Court Judge of Sierra Leone. She is the sister of Sierra Leonean politician Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh
.
Jalloh is the first woman to hold the Chief Justice position in Sierra Leone's history. She is a muslim
and a member of the Fula
ethnic group from Koinadugu District
.
, Sierra Leone
to muslim parents from the Fula
ethnic group from Kabala
, Koinadugu District
in the north of the country. She attendend the Harford Secondary School for Girls in Moyamba
, Moyamba District]] and the St. Edward's Secondary School
in Freetown.
After her secondary education, she attended Sierra Leone's Fourah Bay College
and Njala University
and got a Bachelor of Laws degree. In 1974, She got a scholarship to study at the prestigious Columbia University
in New York
, where she did her Master of Laws
. She later continued her legal education at the University of London
.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. She was sworn in as Sierra Leone's new Chief Justice on January 26, 2008 after being appointed by president Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
with the approval of the Sierra Leone Parliament to replace outgoing Chief Justice Ade Renner Thomas
Ade Renner Thomas
Ade Renner Thomas is the former Chief Justice of Sierra Leone. An ethnic Creole, Thomas was born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital. He later obtained a Ph.D. in land law. He was appointed to the position of chief justice by former president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. In 2008 Renner-Thomas...
. Before being appointed to the position, she was a Supreme Court Judge of Sierra Leone. She is the sister of Sierra Leonean politician Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh
Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh
Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh is a Sierra Leonean politician and ambassador. Tejan-Jalloh is also the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He previously served as minister of Transport and Communications from 1996-1997 under current president Ahmed Tejan Kabbah's government in-exile during the...
.
Jalloh is the first woman to hold the Chief Justice position in Sierra Leone's history. She is a muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and a member of the Fula
Fula people of Sierra Leone
Fula people of Sierra Leone is a major ethnic group in Sierra Leone and a branch of the Fula people of western Africa. The make up about 5% of Sierra Leone's population...
ethnic group from Koinadugu District
Koinadugu District
Koinadugu District Is a District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is by far the largest District in Sierra Leone in geographical area. Its capital and largest city is Kabala, which is also one of the main cities in Northern Sierra Leone...
.
Eerly life and education
Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh was born and raised in FreetownFreetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to muslim parents from the Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
ethnic group from Kabala
Kabala, Sierra Leone
Kabala is the capital and largest town of Koinadugu District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, with a population of 14,108 in the 2004 census, and a current estimate of 18,770 Kabala is one of the main cities in northern Sierra Leone and is set in a rural landscape...
, Koinadugu District
Koinadugu District
Koinadugu District Is a District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is by far the largest District in Sierra Leone in geographical area. Its capital and largest city is Kabala, which is also one of the main cities in Northern Sierra Leone...
in the north of the country. She attendend the Harford Secondary School for Girls in Moyamba
Moyamba
Moyamba is the capital and largest city of Moyamba District, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, with a population of 11,485 in the 2004 census. The city is about 48 miles southeast of the capital, Freetown. The population of the city is ethnically diverse although the Mende people make up...
, Moyamba District]] and the St. Edward's Secondary School
St. Edward's Secondary School
St Edward's Secondary School is a public Catholic secondary school in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Since its inception it has remained one of the country's most prestigious schools. While St. Edwards is designed to be an all-male school, female students are permitted to enroll as A Level candidates. It...
in Freetown.
After her secondary education, she attended Sierra Leone's Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
and Njala University
Njala University
Njala University is a major Sierra Leonean university located in the country's second largest city of Bo and the town of Njala, Moyamba District, Sierra Leone...
and got a Bachelor of Laws degree. In 1974, She got a scholarship to study at the prestigious Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where she did her Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
. She later continued her legal education at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.