Legal heavy weights recruited to CI appeal court
(CNS): Three leading judicial experts have been recruited to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal following an open search by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and then an interview panel. Sir Bernard Rix, Sir George Newman (left) and John Martin were then appointed as justices to the local appeal bench on the panel’s advice by the governor. The higher court jobs were advertised locally and overseas and five justices were interviewed by Sir John Chadwick, the panel chairman and current president of the appeal court and JLSC member; Dan Scott, the JLSC chairman; Sir David Simmons and Baroness Scotland, both JLSC members; and Chief Justice Anthony Smellie.
“Each of these new Justices of Appeal has an impressive and distinguished legal career which will complement the experience of our present Court of Appeal,” Governor Helen Kilpatrick said as she announced their appointments. “I look forward to welcoming them to the Cayman Islands over the next year when each of them will sit for the first time.”
Professor Sir Bernard Rix (right) is a recently retired Lord Justice of Appeal of England and Wales, with twenty years experience in the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal. He is Professor of International Commercial Law at Queen Mary University of London. Sir Bernard has previous experience as a High Court Judge and a barrister specialising in international commercial and arbitral disputes. Sir Bernard’s appointment is effective 1 November 2013 for a five year renewable term.
John Martin, QC, (left) has been a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey since 2007. He has sat as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Chancery Division since 1993. He is a barrister practising from London in a wide range of commercial and chancery work and is and currently Head of Chambers. Martin’s appointment is effective 1 March 2014 for a five year renewable term.
Sir George Newman is currently a Surveillance Commissioner for England and Wales and Chairman of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel in the Cabinet Office. He was formerly a High Court Judge of the Queen’s Division Bench in London and now sits as a Deputy Judge. Sir George served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal in the Bahamas for two years and has acted as a barrister in a cross section of jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Fiji and the Caribbean. Sir George’s appointment is effective 1 July 2014 for a three year renewable term.
The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal is now fully constituted and comprises:
- Rt. Honourable Sir John Chadwick (President)
- Justice E Mottley, JA (term expires 25 November, 2014)
- Justice Dr. A. Conteh, JA (term expires 11 December, 2013)
- Rt. Honourable Sir Anthony Campbell, JA (term expires 23 May, 2014)
- Sir Richard Ground, JA
- The Right Honourable Sir Bernard Rix, JA
- Honourable Sir George Newman
- John Martin, QC, JA
Category: Crime
So which "Caymanian judge" would you appoint 15:12?
CNS probably wouldn't let me post his name.
CNS: Yes, I will allow the name of a Caymanian judge qualified to sit on the Court of Appeal if you know of one.
Most of the Grand Court judges are Caymanian. Just probably not "Caymanian enough" for the Caymanization crew.
Anon, 10:52: CNS has given you its answer. Now please post the name of the Caymanian judge or judges qualified to sit on the Court of Appeal. Failure to do so will be conclusive evidence there is none, making your original post merely mindless and lacking in knowledge and simply pandering to the "we Caymanians are constantly overlooked etc etc syndrome" which plays so well nowadays among the ignorant. So, let's have it, give us the name or names. We're waiting.
The position is not limited to current judges, a Caymanian lawyer could serve as well (like the English one who was just appointed.)
THe Hon. Raymond Alberga, "father" not son.
Agreed, s good man and distinguished lawyer. But not possible as an appointment because of the myriad of connections his son has in local affairs and with local people. Of course the people who are crying out for a Caymanian would tell you that Mr Alberga is "really a Jamaican".
It's wonderful to see diversity in hiring…
How much will this lot cost??
Where do we get the money to pay these high class judges or does the UK foot the bills?Amazing where we seem to just pluck money out of thin air when our children are going without lunches,school books in some cases and our elderly are having a hard time being fed.I for the life of me cannot understand why so many elderly folks are not being taken care of by their families.
The families can't support themselves much like their elderly. You said above how children are going without lunches and books. I think you answered your own questions. Although I do know of a particular family that makes loads of money but don't help their elderly family but I'm pretty sure that there are few of them.
Still not one Caymanian Judge anywhere to be seen…Lord help us!