Bernard & Bell Appointed To Court Of Appeal
Governor George Fergusson today announced the appointment of two new Justices to the Court of Appeal with effect from 1 January 2015. They are Justice Desiree Bernard and Mr Geoffrey Bell QC.
Mr Fergusson said, “I am delighted to see two such distinguished lawyers join the Court of Appeal. Bermuda is fortunate in being able to attract such high level jurists to maintain the quality of its courts, providing a level of service at the highest possible level both for the people of Bermuda and international business.
“Justice Desiree Bernard will bring her extensive experience in the Caribbean courts as well as becoming the second female Justice to be appointed to Bermuda’s Court of Appeal.
“In Mr Geoffrey Bell, the Court will be gaining someone with long experience of the law in Bermuda, a former President of the Bar Association and a former judge of the Supreme Court.”
These appointments have been made following the recommendations of the Judicial and Legal Services Committee.
Justice Desiree Bernard was appointed the first female Judge of the High Court of Guyana in 1980 before moving to the Court of Appeal in 1992. She was also the first female Chief Justice of Guyana in 1996 and was a Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice from its establishment in 2005.
Mr. Geoffrey Bell came to Bermuda from the UK in 1971. He joined the firm of Appleby Spurling & Kempe in 1974, serving successively as head of the Litigation Department and Managing Partner, retiring as a partner in 1994. He was President of the Bar Association from 1981 – 1984 and appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in 2005, serving until 2010. He has been active in arbitration work.
