The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) wholeheartedly welcomes the nomination of Liberia’s Minster of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia and calls on the Honorable Liberian Senate to confirm him. We see the nomination of Cllr. Dean to the Bench of the Supreme Court by President George Weah as a laudable decision in the interest of justice, peace and the rule of law. Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, popularly called “Counselor Dean” is one of Liberia’s respectable legal minds and experienced public servants, whose achievements and academic credentials make him best suited to serve as one of the Associate Justices of the Honorable Supreme Court. Cllr. Dean is greatly admired by many Liberians, home and abroad as one of the most respected Liberian lawyers who has always stood his ground in the dispensation of justice and the protection of the rule of law. The Civil Society Network of Liberia is of the strongest belief that Cllr. Dean’s remarkable wealth of experience in the legal field posits him as an ideal lawyer to replace Cllr. Joseph Nagbe on the Supreme Court Bench. As one of Liberia’s leading legal practitioners, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean served as Founder and Managing Director of Dean & Associates Incorporated; an Assistant Professor of Law at Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, from 1997 to 2002; a staff Counsel at Sherman & Sherman Incorporated Law Office from 1997 to 2003 and Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia at the Ministry of Justice from 1996 to 1997. From 1987 to 1996, this accomplished lawyer also served the roles of Legal Research Officer, In-House Legal Counsel, Deputy Managing Director, Managing Director and Chief Executive officer at the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC). Cllr. Frank Musa Dean also previously served as Senior Legal Consultant, President & CEO of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) from 2001 to 2003. From 2008 to 2018, Cllr. Dean served the distinguished role as Honorary Counsel of the Russian Federation. Regarding his educational background, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean is a product of some of the world’s renowned institutions; including the US based Columbia University School of Law, where he obtained his LL.M (Master of Laws in 1990 with concentration on international Business Law). He holds a Diploma in Telecommunications Management Studies in 1989 from the Bailbrook College, England. Prior to that, the Associate Justice designate, obtained his LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws)1988 at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law University of Liberia; after he got his first B.A (Bachelor of Arts) in 1985, majoring in Political Science (International Relations) and minoring in Public Administration at the University of Liberia in 1985. Based on his educational achievements and years of law practice, Cllr. Dean became a member of the Liberia National Bar Association in 1988, and got admitted into the Supreme Court Bar as Counsellor at Law in 1992. The Civil Society Network of Liberia wants to state in unequivocal terms that Cllr. Frank Musa Dean has demonstrated high degree of professionalism, not just in the execution of his duties as Minister of Justice but has also earned deep respect of his peers over the years as an astute lawyer. As Minister of Justice and Dean of the Supreme Court Bar since 2018, Cllr. Dean has executed policy strategies, and the formulation of legislation and improved institutional capacity for effective service delivery. He introduced reforms in the justice and rule of law sector and ensured Liberia’s compliance to treaties, contracts, and bi-lateral agreements and other domestic and international laws. Due to his high level of professionalism in the legal sector of Liberia, Cllr. Dean has been listed on the United States Embassy website as reference for lawyers in Liberia. The Civil Society Network of Liberia sees it as unwarranted and baseless assertions from some misguided individuals and critics, calling on the Liberian Senate not to confirm Cllr. Frank Musa Dean because of Liberia’s loss of the 100 million drug case and the Gbarpolu County diamond issue. Firstly, the Ministry of Justice under Cllr. Dean effectively performed its role by arresting the 100 million drug brought into Liberia, and ensured it was burned in the full view of local and international partners, including US Embassy officials. The Ministry of Justice immediately took the alleged perpetrators to court. The case was heard and decided by a jury. Secondly, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean played no role in the diamond case beyond issuing legal opinion to the Ministry of Mines & Energy; the government agency charged with the responsibility to decide ownership of minerals. Hence, the Civil Soviet Network of Liberia congratulates Cllr. Frank Musa Dean for his preferment by President George Weah to serve the Liberian People as an Associate Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia. As a renowned legal luminary, we harbor no doubt in the ability of the current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia to perform as expected of a high court jurist. We call on all current Members of the Honorable Liberian Senate to unconditionally confirm Cllr. Frank Musa Dean as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
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