Freetown – President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has appointed Honourable Justice Nicholas Colin Browne-Marke, a former Acting Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, as Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.
The appointment places one of the country’s most experienced jurists at the helm of the body responsible for reviewing and modernising national laws.
Justice Browne-Marke currently serves as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone, a position he has held since 2014, and also sits on the Supreme Court of The Gambia.
He previously served as Acting Chief Justice after his appointment by President Bio in December 2023. During that period, he prioritised the clearance of long-standing case backlogs, reforms to judicial human resource management, and a renewed emphasis on independence, impartiality and institutional integrity.
Born in England to Sierra Leonean Creole parents, Justice Browne-Marke studied law at the Inns of Court School of Law and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1981. He began his career as state counsel in the Director of Public Prosecutions Office between 1982 and 1989 before entering private practice. He later served on the Court of Appeal and has lectured at the Sierra Leone Law School. He is known for his firm handling of high-profile matters, including the landmark 2009 cocaine trafficking trial.
Established under the Law Reform Commission Act of 1994, the Commission is mandated to keep Sierra Leone’s laws under continuous review, recommend amendments or repeals of outdated legislation, eliminate anomalies, and support the systematic modernisation, consolidation and codification of the legal framework. Its work is central to aligning national laws with contemporary governance requirements and human rights standards.
Justice Browne-Marke’s extensive judicial experience is expected to strengthen the Commission’s capacity to drive meaningful reform and support the government’s broader justice sector agenda.
The appointment signals continued emphasis on experienced legal leadership as Sierra Leone advances efforts to update its laws and improve access to justice for citizens.
