Gloria Musu-Scott

Gloria Musu-Scott
Musu-Scott in 2015
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia
In office 1997–2003

Gloria Maya Musu-Scott is a former Liberian politician and jurist who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1997 until 2003. She and three other family members were convicted of murder in 2023 in connection with the death of her niece. Following an appeal, her and her family members were acquitted by the Supreme Court.

Early life and education

Scott was born in Monrovia and is a member of the Grebo people.[1] She has a bachelor's degree in economics and a law degree from the University of Liberia[2] and a LLM from Harvard Law School in 2017.[3]

Career

Scott is a member of the Liberian National Bar Association and a co-founder of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia.[2] She was an assistant professor at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia.[2]

Scott was appointed Chief Justice of the five member Supreme Court in 1997, after the court was reconstituted following the civil war and the election of Charles Taylor.[4][5] In February 2003, Scott read a ruling of the court which said it did not have legal jurisdiction over the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy to stop the second civil war in order to conduct a national census prior to the 2003 election.[6] She served on the court until August 2003, when the transitional government took effect.[7]

At the 2005 elections, Scott became the Junior Senator for Maryland County, representing the Unity Party.[8][9][10] In 2008, she spoke to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about the need to look further beyond the events of 1979.[1] She lost her Senate seat in the 2011 election.[11]

Scott was the chairperson of the Constitution Review Committee which convened from 2013 until 2015.[12][13] The CRC visited all 73 electoral districts and collected a total of 56,729 views from citizens.[14] In this role, Scott advocated for the participation of women as well as for the education of girls.[15][16] Scott presented the Committee's final report to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in August 2015.[17]

In 2016, Scott was named as one of a number of judges said to be bad debtors by the Liberia Banker Association, which said she had failed to pay $11,241.04 (~$14,271 in 2023) owed to the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment.[18]

Murder conviction and acquittal

In December 2023, Musu-Scott and three female family members were convicted of the stabbing murder of her niece Charlotte Musu in February 2023. The defendants were also found guilty of conspiracy and making a false report to law enforcement. Musu-Scott maintained that her niece had been killed by home invaders and alleged that the jury had been bribed to return a guilty verdict. She and the other defendants were sentenced to life in prison and interned at the Monrovia Central Prison. Musu-Scott subsequently lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Liberia.[19] On 28 August 2024, Musu-Scott and her family members were acquitted by the Supreme Court.[20]

References

1. "TRC Should Go Beyond 1979". Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
2. "Gloria Scott". Inclusive Security. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
3. Kunycky, Audrey (19 May 2017). "Back to law school—after being chief justice". Harvard Law School. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
4. "Rebuilding State Institutions". Human Rights Watch. 1997.
5. Weiner, Tim (3 September 2003). "LETTER FROM AFRICA; Of Liberia's Many Sorrows, and Their Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
6. "Liberia: Court dismisses elections case". IRIN. 22 February 2003. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
7. Tripp, Aili Mari (2015). Women and Power in Post-Conflict Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 92. ISBN 9781107115576.
8. Harris, David (2011). Civil War and Democracy in West Africa: Conflict Resolution, Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia. I. B. Tauris. p. 175. ISBN 9780857720740.
9. Doe, Samuel (31 October 2011). "Liberia: Cut Down Political Parties – Senator Gloria Scott Urges NEC". The Analyst. All Africa. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
10. "2005 Election Results". National Elections Commission. 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
11. Williams, Wade (15 January 2012). "Liberia president faces a tough second term". Global Post. PRI. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
12. Saywah-Jimmy, C. Winnie (22 April 2015). "'Be True Reconcilers ... Gloria Scott Challenges UMU Graduates; Calls for Mutual Respect Debate on National Issues". Monrovia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
13. Butty, James (3 April 2015). "Liberian Constitutional Conference Approves 'Christian Nation' Recommendation". VOA News. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
14. Tweh, Ethel A. (13 February 2015). "CRC gathers 56, 729 suggestions from citizens". The New Dawn. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
15. "Constitutional Reform- an opportunity to enhance women's rights". United Nations Development Programme. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
16. Yates, David A. (16 March 2015). "Gloria Scott Stresses Girls' Education". Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
17. "Constitution Committee presents Final Report to President Sirleaf". United Nations Development Programme. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
18. "Former Chief Justice, Judge, Lawyers Labeled Bad Borrowers". Front Page Africa. 2 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
19. Porkpa, Darlington (22 December 2023). "Liberia: Court convicts ex-chief justice for murder". The Africa Report. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
20. Koinyeneh, Gerald C. (31 August 2024). "Liberia: Supreme Court Acquits Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and Relatives". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 31 August 2024.

External links

• Interview on Constitution building