View source for Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Jr.

{{Short description|Liberian jurist}}
<!--{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Jr.
|-
| colspan="2" |[[File:Image_of_Clarence_Lorenzo_Simpson_Jr._and_family.jpg|alt=|center|thumb|276x276px|Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Jr. Left, Alpha D. Simpson Center, Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Sr. Right]]
|-
! colspan="2" |Associate Justice of Supreme Court of Liberia
|-
| colspan="2" |'''In office'''1966
|-
!President
|[[William V. S. Tubman|President William V. S. Tubman]]
|-
! colspan="2" |Attorney General and Minister of Justice
|-
| colspan="2" |'''In office'''1973-1974
|-
!President
|[[William Tolbert|William R. Tolbert]] Jr.
|-
!Preceded by
|George Henries
|-
!Succeeded by
|Lawrence A. Morgan
|-
! colspan="2" |Personal details
|-
!Born
|Clarence Lorenzo Simpson, Jr.
15 June 1933
[[Monrovia|Monrovia, Liberia]]
|-
!Died
|30 January 2016 (aged 83)
Brewerville, Liberia
|-
!Cause of death
|Natural Causes
|-
!Resting place
|[[Royesville Family Plot]]
|-
!Political party
|[[True Whig]]
|-
!Parents
|[[Clarence Lorenzo Simpson]] and Abrametta Stubblefield Simpson
|-
!Spouse(s)
|Judith Elaine Marsh Simpson (1961)
|-
!Children
|8; Ada Simpson, Clarence Simpson III,
Judith Lorraine Simpson Harvey, Claire Simpson Emiroglu,
Clarine Simpson Vaughn, Cheryl Simpson Cornwall,
Christian Simpson, Esq, and Alpha Simpson, MD/PH.D.
|}-->
'''Clarence Lorenzo Simpson''' '''Jr'''. (1933–2016) was a [[Liberia]]n jurist and politician. He served as [[Associate justice|Associate Justice]] of the Supreme Court, [[Attorney general|Attorney General]], and [[Minister of Justice]] of Liberia serving under both President [[William Tubman]] and President [[William Tolbert]].<ref name=":3">[Records of the Office of the President ], [Travel briefs, Liberia (01/01/1973-31/01/1973)], Folder ID [1772665], ISAD( WB IBRD/IDA 03 EXC-10-4540S) Reference Code [Reference Code], [Each Level Label as applicable], World Bank Group Archives, Washington, D.C., United States.</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=French|first=Howard W.|date=1995-05-10|title=Monrovia Journal; Old Elite From America Loses All in Liberia|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/10/world/monrovia-journal-old-elite-from-america-loses-all-in-liberia.html|access-date=2020-06-15|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Jr, an [[Americo-Liberian people|Americo-Liberian]] was born in Liberia to [[Clarence Lorenzo Simpson]], Sr. and Abrametta Stubblefield Simpson on June 15, 1933. Clarence Lorenzo Simpson, his father served as Vice President and Secretary of State in Liberia. Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Sr. was the grandchild of John Simpson, a Florida-born ex-slave and Julia Ann Simpson, née Russell, a daughter of President [[Alfred Francis Russell]].  The Simpson clan is one of the most influential [[Americo-Liberian people|Americo-Liberian]] families in Liberia.
Counselor Simpson received his high school diploma from [[Williston Northampton School|Williston Academy]] in Easthampton, Massachusetts. After this he enrolled at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst|University of Massachusetts]], Amherst, Massachusetts. He later took the LLB degree from [[Georgetown University Law Center|Georgetown University]] in Washington, D.C.<ref name=":3" />
Following his return home with a law degree, Mr. Simpson, son of President Tubman’s first vice president Clarence Lorenzo Simpson,<ref name=":4" /> was appointed Legal Counsel of the Ministry of Public Works.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Clarence L. Simpson, Jr. Dies|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/clarence-l-simpson-jr-dies/|last=Admin|first=Webmaster|date=2016-02-01|website=Liberian Observer|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>
== Religious life ==
Like many in the Simpson clan, Counselor Simpson was a devout Christian and member of the Episcopal Church of Liberia.<ref name=":3" /> He served as [[Episcopal Diocese of Liberia|Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese]]. He also served under Bishop Dillard Houston Brown, representing the Episcopal Diocese on the Board of Trustees of Phoebe Hospital, which later became a School of Nursing.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=President Sirleaf Attends Funeral of late Associate Justice Clarence Lorenzo Simpson|url=https://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=3556&related=7&pg=sp|website=www.emansion.gov.lr|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> After relinquishing the Chancellorship, he continued to Act as an informal advisor to the Diocese. He made constant financial and spiritual donations to the church and its members throughout the longevity of his life.
== Political career ==
Counselor Simpson's started his political career following his return to Liberia after obtaining his law degree from [[Georgetown University Law Center|Georgetown University]].<ref name=":3" /> Counselor Simpson began his career in public service as a Lecturer at the [[Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law]], [[University of Liberia]]. Later in his career he was appointed Legal Counsel of the Ministry of Public Works.<ref name=":0" /> He served in many capacities of trust with distinction in the private and public sectors and also played key roles in many critical negotiations, most especially the Mount Coffee Hydro Electric Dam Project and National Highway Projects, funded by the United States and German Governments.<ref name=":1" />
In recognition of his vital role and remarkable performance, he was appointed at age 31, youngest to serve at this position in Liberian history at this time,  by [[William V. S. Tubman|President William V. S. Tubman]] as [[Associate justice|Associate Justice of Supreme Court of Liberia]] in 1966.<ref name=":4" /> He also served on the Supreme Court Bench under [[A. Dash Wilson|Chief Justice A. Dash Wilson]] and remained in said position until 1971 when he was appointed by the late President [[William R. Tolbert Jr.|William R. Tolbert, Jr.]] as [[Attorney general|Attorney General]] and [[Minister of Justice]].<ref name=":4" /> Counselor Simpson was also the General Secretary of the [[True Whig Party]].<ref name=":4" /> In consideration of his noble, devoted and dedicated services to the Liberian Government, and excellent Legal skills demonstrated, the late [[Johnnie Lewis|Chief Justice Johnnie N. Lewis]] in 2006 again appointed him as Chairman, Grievance and Ethic Committee of the [[Supreme Court of Liberia]].<ref name=":1" />
<!--== Late life ==
After the conclusion of the [[First Liberian Civil War|First]] and [[Second Liberian Civil War]]s, Counselor Simpson made Brewerville, Liberia his home on Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Jr. road. He spent a large amount of time at his family home in Brewerville with his family and those around him. He took great pride in his philanthropic works. He donated massively to the people who lived in his community as well as had a large part in the foundation of the Ada B Memorial School in Bomie Township, Liberia.<ref name=":2">Darius Harvey, Grandson of Clarence Lorenzo Simpson Jr.</ref>
== Family ==
Counselor Simpson was the child of [[Clarence Lorenzo Simpson]] Sr. and Abrametta Stubllefield Simpson. Counselor Simpson married Judith Elaine Marsh Simpson in Kakata, Margibi County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://willistonblogs.com/obituaries/2017/06/26/clarence-l-simpson-jr-51/|title = Clarence L. Simpson, Jr. '51 &#124; in Memoriam| date=26 June 2017 }}</ref> Justice Simpson had 8 children; Ada Simpson, Clarence L. Simpson III, Mrs. Judith Lorraine Simpson Harvey, Mrs. Claire Simpson Emiroglu, Mrs. Clarine Simpson Vaughn, Mrs. Cheryl Simpson Cornwall, Christian Simpson, and Alpha Simpson. He was also a passionate grandfather to his many grandchildren: Whitney Cherry,  Byron Hayes, Clarence Simpson IV, Russell Holland Simpson, Christophe Simpson, Alexis Vaughn, Camille Cornwall, Jared Vaughn, Cameron Cornwall, Darius Harvey, Claire Simpson, Fatih Emiroglu, Chanel Harvey, Adele Simpson, Nathan Williams, Quinn Simpson, Atticus Simpson, Jude Simpson, Julie Simpson, Creed Simpson.<ref name=":2" />-->
== References ==
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{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Clarence Lorenzo Jr.}}
[[Category:Supreme Court of Liberia justices]]
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:True Whig Party politicians]]
[[Category:Justice ministers of Liberia]]
[[Category:Americo-Liberian people]]
[[Category:People of Americo-Liberian descent]]
[[Category:Simpson family (Liberia)]]
[[Category:University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni]]
[[Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni]]
[[Category:People from Monrovia]]
[[Category:20th-century Liberian judges]]