Monrovia, Oct. 26 -- Few Liberian presidents have been in a position to remake the Supreme Court from top to bottom. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is on course to do exactly that. If the justices retire as the Constitution requires, every seat on the five-member bench will have been filled by Mr. Boakai by the time Liberians vote in the October 2029 general elections, or shortly after.

By Rodney D. Sieh

The arithmetic is set by Article 72(b) of the 1986 Constitution, which requires the Chief Justice and Associate Justices to retire at 70. They may stay on only to finish cases they began hearing before that birthday. Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Three down, two to go

Mr. Boakai, who took office i...