On the night of April 12, 1980, the 1980 Liberian coup d'état was staged by enlisted men of the army that overthrew the William Tolbert administration and led to the arrest of many senior government officials.

He completed his early education at nearby Bassa Industrial Academy (BIA) and thereafter attended Cuttington Divinity School, then located in Maryland County.

His godfather, James Early, who was then employed as an auditor at the Treasury Department in Monrovia sponsored the young Pierre who was trained as an account clerk.

James Pierre began employment with the Treasury Department, eventually becoming one of the Liberian government's revenue agents responsible for out station collection of taxes.

In January 1952, the late Chief Justice Pierre commenced a long and distinguished legal career in Government with his initial appointment as Defense Counsel for Montserrado County.

He placed particular emphasis on the establishment of a Codification Division within the Justice Department, and made the Solicitor General's office an independent section with the authority to directly liaise with the various county attorneys to ensure the orderly and efficient prosecution of government cases.

His tenure as Attorney General of Liberia was marked by his close association and identification with the Liberian Government/Cornell University Codification Project under the directorship of the late Professor Milton R. Konvitz.

Sadly after his death, the program was discontinued with the concomitant loss to the Bench, the Bar, law scholars and students alike.

Prior to the enactment it was the unilateral right of the Chief Justice to instruct Circuit Court judges by mandate to admit any applicant to the Bar.

As a necessary adjunct and to ensure the continuous supply of a body of academically trained and competent young lawyers, he was an avid supporter of the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School of the University of Liberia.

His attempts were not limited to the national level, and during his incumbency, he ensured that both the Bench and the Bar actively participated in both regional and international judicial conferences.