Standing Committee On Judicial, Legal Services
Governor George Fergusson has appointed a Standing Committee on Judicial and Legal Services to advise him on his Constitutional responsibilities relating to the Judiciary.
These include his power to appoint Judges and Magistrates and to make decisions concerning complaints about Judicial conduct [other than issues relating to judgments which could be considered further in the courts].
A statement from Government House said, “In the past, Governors have generally convened an appropriate group to provide advice when decisions have had to be made. The new body, which is not a statutory body, is intended to be permanent, with a publicly known membership.
“This gives a greater degree of transparency and the continuing membership will make it easier to maintain consistency, develop succession planning and establish and build on precedents.
“A new process for handling complaints will be established in the New Year. Several other Overseas Territories have similar bodies established by their Constitutions.
“Pending any amendments to the Bermuda Constitution, the new Committee will have a similar role, remit and membership to those established constitutionally elsewhere.”
The members are:
- The Rt. Hon Edward Zacca, ex officio as President of the Bermuda Court of Appeal
- Chief Justice Ian Kawaley, ex officio as Chief Justice of Bermuda
- Mr. Justin Williams, ex officio as President of the Bermuda Bar Association
- Ms. Arlene Brock, Ombudsman for Bermuda
- Mrs. Martha Dismont, Executive Director of the Family Centre
- The Hon Sir David Baragwanath, President of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon, formerly a Justice of the Courts of Appeal of New Zealand and Samoa
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Martha Dismont? Why? I can understand the other appointees as they are all lawyers.
Good move!! A Judicial Commission for BDA is long overdue! However they have no powers?bAlso,Where does the Gov get his appointees to a Body before it is even announced! Does he (+ Govt, re Boards) have some secret list of ‘preferred’ appointees?? How about some transparency on this subject!! –Bernews???
WTF – Lebanon? Guess friends and family extends to the British at Government House too! This is the 2nd or 3rd Committee this Governor has appointed that contains a collection of the most unqualified people for the job. But then again we like being a British Crown Colony!