The law provides for a five-member commission. However, the Human Rights Commission has never had a full slate of commissioners since its inception. According to the 1997 law, the president makes nominations to the legislature for approval. Originally, President Taylor nominated six candidates to be considered for confirmation by the legislature: Justice Hall Badio, Chief Jallah Lone, Kormah Bryemah, Luvenia Ash-Thompson, Rev. Walter Richards of the Concerned Christian Community, and Kofi Woods of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.

Of these six nominees, only two were eventually confirmed. Even before the senate hearings, the two NGO nominees, Rev. Walter Richard and Kofi Woods, declined to serve because of the lack of consultation with the human rights NGO community and the weak founding legislation. The confirmation hearing of the remaining four nominees was held by the senate in July 1998, almost a year after the nominations. Two candidates were rejected: Kormeh Bryemah and Luvenia Ash-Thompson. Kormeh Bryemah was rejected for what the Senate termed "double dealing." Shortly before the senate hearing, Mr Bryemah was the victim of a police beating on the orders of [then] Director of Police Joe Tate for an alleged traffic violation. He received multiple contusions from the beating. President Taylor appointed a commission to investigate the matter, but refused to publicize the findings, claiming that he had ordered the probe for his own personal information. After the senate rejection of Mr. Bryemah's appointment, he fled the country stating that he feared for his life. Luvenia Ash-Thompson, lawyer and former dean of the law school was rejected "for her preoccupation with the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia." The remaining two, Justice Hall Badio and Chief Jallah Lone were confirmed.

For one year, Justice Hall Badio, a long-standing judge of almost twenty years, and Chief Jallah Lone were the only serving members. Three more commissioners - Florence Dayrell, Frank A. Sambola, and Frank Porkpah Senkpeni - were nominated in late 1999, and have been pending senate approval since then. However, even before the senate hearing could take place, Frank Sambola was appointed to the ministry of local government and withdrew his name. No replacement had been nominated by the president's office as of March 2000. Florence Dayrell and Frank Senkpeni have been serving as acting commissioners pending their senate approval.