Sir Richard Ground Passed Away On Saturday

[Updating] Sir Richard Ground, who served as Bermuda’s Chief Justice for eight years after moving to Bermuda in 1992, died on Saturday [Feb 22]. Sir Richard retired as Bermuda’s Chief Justice in March 2012.

Sir Richard Ground was knighted in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his achievements during his eight-year tenure as Bermuda’s Chief Justice. Sir Richard had a long and distinguished career in the judiciary of the Overseas Territories.

He sat on Bermuda’s Supreme Court bench for six years in the 1990s; he was Chief Justice in the Turks & Caicos Islands for six years and Senior Crown Counsel and Attorney General in Cayman over a nine-year period. He also served on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission in Cayman.

Update 5.33pm: Premier Craig Cannonier said, “On behalf of the Government of Bermuda, I send condolences to the family of Sir Richard Ground whose untimely death this weekend has shocked people across the Island.

“Sir Richard’s contributions to Bermuda were many. As a member of Bermuda’s Court of Appeal and a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he ably presided over criminal and commercial cases while reforming the court system to make it more efficient and responsive. It is fair to say that in his time on the Bench, Sir Richard strengthened and maintained the Island’s standing as a legal jurisdiction.

“Moreover, Sir Richard was an avid naturalist whose camera captured much that is beautiful about our island. There is no question that he loved Bermuda and gave his all to make a positive contribution.

“From the many comments I have heard this weekend, it is clear that Sir Richard was admired and respected by all who knew him professionally. and by those fortunate enough to call him friend.

“Bermuda is the poorer for his loss.”

Update 6.51pm: A spokesperson from the Supreme Court said, “It is with great sadness that we report that the former Chief Justice Sir Richard Ground Q.C. OBE passed away peacefully on Saturday 22nd February 2014 at his home in Grindleford, Derbyshire, after a short illness.

“Sir Richard retired as Bermuda’s Chief Justice in 2012. He was subsequently appointed a member of the Court of Appeal of Bermuda but was unable to sit before his illness took hold. His first position in Bermuda’s courts was as Puisne Judge, 1992-1998.

“He was widely regarded as a Jurist of high intellect and by all who appeared before him, whether in Criminal or Civil matters, as a courteous judge who treated all with fairness.”

“We at the Judicial Department will miss him greatly and send our condolences to his wife Dace, and our thoughts and prayers are with her at this difficult time,” said Acting Registrar Peter Miller.

Chief Justice, the Hon Ian Kawaley, said: “Sir Richard Ground served Bermuda’s Judiciary sitting on the Supreme Court in two spells. Initially, he served as a Puisne Judge between 1993 and 1998. He was subsequently Bermuda’s first Chief Justice to be appointed in the 21st century, and served in that capacity between 2004 and 2012. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2013 but, regrettably, never sat.

“His untimely death is a blow and great loss to the Judiciary as a whole. Sir Richard was a model modern judge, setting very high standards of efficiency, fairness, clarity of reasoning and soundness of judgment in all the cases he dealt with. I am saddened by his passing but confident that his legal legacy will continue to illumine Bermuda’s legal system for years to come.”

Update 7.53pm: Shadow Attorney General Ms. Kim Wilson offered condolences on the passing of former Bermuda Chief Justice Sir Richard Ground saying, “During the period of time I was Attorney General I worked closely with Justice Ground.

“His passing offers me moments of reflection and I offer condolences from myself and on behalf of the Progressive Labour Party.”

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