Henry Reed Cooper (3 September 1940 – 24 August 2023) was a Liberian judge. He served as Chief Justice of Liberia from 2003 to 2006, during the Gyude Bryant transitional government, following the Second Liberian Civil War.
Henry Reed Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia | |
| In office 2003–2006 | |
| Preceded by | Gloria Musu-Scott |
| Succeeded by | Johnnie Lewis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 September 1940 Monrovia, Liberia |
| Died | 24 August 2023 (aged 82) Monrovia, Liberia |
| Alma mater | Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law University of Pennsylvania Law School |
Early life and career edit
Henry Reed Cooper was born on 3 September 1940 in Monrovia.[1] He was a Congo person.[2] His father was Jesse Reed Cooper, director of the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation. He attended St. Patrick's Elementary School, and received a high school education from the College of West Africa, graduating in 1960. He graduated first from the University of Liberia and then earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. He later earned a master's in law from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.[1]
Career edit
Early in his career, Cooper worked at the Department of State under J. Rudolph Grimes. As a lawyer, he became a partner at the law office Bright, Cooper & Simpson Law Office, later known as Cooper & Togbah Law Office. He was a member of the Liberia Bar Association.[1]
Cooper served as Chief Justice of Liberia from 2003 to 2006, during the Gyude Bryant transitional government.[3] After retiring as Chief Justice, he continued to work for Cooper & Togbah Law Office.[1]
In 2013, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed Cooper as Acting Mayor of Monrovia after Mayor Mary Broh resigned.[3]
Personal life and death edit
His wife was Annie Nadu Cooper. Together, they had four children.[1]
Cooper died at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, on 24 August 2023, at the age of 82.[1][3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Liberia: Henry Reed Cooper, Former Chief Justice of Liberia, Dies at 82". Liberian Observer. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ Tipoteh, Togba-Nah (August 28, 2023). "A Legal Luminary, Cllr. Henry Reed Cooper, Passes Away". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c Dodoo, Lennart (August 25, 2023). "Cllr. Henry Reed Cooper, Former Chief Justice of Liberia Is Dead". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved August 28, 2023.