Gloria Musu-Scott Explained

Gloria Musu-Scott
Term Start:1997
Term End: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.

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 $11,241.04 (~$ in) owed to the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment.[18]

Murder conviction

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TRC Should Go Beyond 1979. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20110430235907/http://trcofliberia.org/press_releases/179. 30 April 2011. dead.
  2. Web site: Gloria Scott. Inclusive Security.
  3. https://hls.harvard.edu/today/back-law-school-chief-justice/
  4. Web site: Rebuilding State Institutions. Human Rights Watch. 1997.
  5. Web site: LETTER FROM AFRICA; Of Liberia's Many Sorrows, and Their Roots. Tim. Weiner. The New York Times. 3 September 2003. 11 February 2017.
  6. Web site: Liberia: Court dismisses elections case. 22 February 2003. 11 February 2017. IRIN.
  7. Book: Tripp, Aili Mari. 92. Women and Power in Post-Conflict Africa. Aili M. Tripp. Cambridge University Press. 2015. 9781107115576.
  8. Book: Harris, David. 175. Civil War and Democracy in West Africa: Conflict Resolution, Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia. I. B. Tauris. 2011. 9780857720740.
  9. Web site: Liberia: Cut Down Political Parties – Senator Gloria Scott Urges NEC. The Analyst. All Africa. 31 October 2011. 11 February 2017. Samuel. Doe.
  10. Web site: 2005 Election Results. National Elections Commission. 2005. March 21, 2024.
  11. Web site: Liberia president faces a tough second term. Wade. Williams. 15 January 2012. 11 February 2017. Global Post. PRI.
  12. Web site: 'Be True Reconcilers ... Gloria Scott Challenges UMU Graduates; Calls for Mutual Respect Debate on National Issues. Monrovia Inquirer. 22 April 2015. 11 February 2017. C. Winnie. Saywah-Jimmy. https://web.archive.org/web/20170212090906/http://monroviainquirer.com/2015/04/22/be-true-reconcilers-gloria-scott-challenges-umu-graduates-calls-for-mutual-respect-on-debate-on-national-issues/. 12 February 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: Liberian Constitutional Conference Approves 'Christian Nation' Recommendation. VOA News. James. Butty. 3 April 2015. 11 February 2017.
  14. Web site: CRC gathers 56, 729 suggestions from citizens. The New Dawn. Ethel A.. Tweh. 13 February 2015. 11 February 2017. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235718/http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/general/27-general/6674-crc-gathers-56-729-suggestions-from-citizens. dead.
  15. Web site: Constitutional Reform- an opportunity to enhance women's rights. 27 August 2015. 11 February 2017. United Nations Development Programme. 10 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190710161430/http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/presscenter/articles/2015/08/27/constitutional-reform-in-liberia-presents-opportunity-to-enhance-women-s-rights.html. dead.
  16. Web site: Gloria Scott Stresses Girls' Education. David A.. Yates. Daily Observer. 16 March 2015. 11 February 2017. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235651/http://www.liberianobserver.com/education/gloria-scott-stresses-girls%E2%80%99-education. dead.
  17. Web site: Constitution Committee presents Final Report to President Sirleaf. 18 August 2015. 11 February 2017. United Nations Development Programme. 10 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190710161430/http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/presscenter/articles/2015/08/18/constitution-review-committee-presents-final-report-to-president-sirleaf.html. dead.
  18. Web site: Former Chief Justice, Judge, Lawyers Labeled Bad Borrowers. Front Page Africa. 2 November 2016. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170212091023/http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/2444-former-chief-justice-judge-lawyers-labeled-bad-borrowers?fromNewsdog=1. 12 February 2017. dead.
  19. Web site: Liberia: Court convicts ex-chief justice for murder. Darlington. Porkpa. The Africa Report. 27 December 2023. 22 December 2023.

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