Narinder Hargun Appointed New Chief Justice
[Updated] Governor John Rankin has announced the appointment of Mr Narinder Hargun as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, from 14 July 2018.
He replaces Chief Justice Dr Ian Kawaley who announced last year he would be stepping down in July.
Governor Rankin said “I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Narinder Hargun as Bermuda’s next Chief Justice.Mr Hargun is a highly regarded lawyer both within Bermuda and internationally.
“He has over 35 years of professional legal experience, appearing as Counsel in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council and serving as an Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court since 2011.
“I am confident that his legal expertise and management experience in the legal profession will serve the Supreme Court well, helping to maintain the island’s standing as a legal jurisdiction of the highest order”.
According to Section 73[3] of the Bermuda Constitution, “The Chief Justice shall be a person qualified for appointment under subsection [5] of this section and shall be appointed by the Governor, by instrument under the Public Seal, acting after consultation with the Premier who shall first have consulted the Opposition Leader.”
Mr Hargun graduated as a Bachelor of Laws and then Master of Laws from the London School of Economics and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1978. He was admitted as a Barrister and Attorney of the Supreme Court of Bermuda in May 1981.
He was an Associate and then Partner with Bermuda-based international law firm, Conyers Dill & Pearman, from 1983 until his retirement from the firm earlier this year. He acted as a member of the firm’s Management Board from 1990 and was its co-Chair from 2012 to 2017.
In 1981 Mr Hargun assisted with the founding of the Free Legal Advice Centre which continues to provide free legal advice on a weekly basis to residents of Bermuda.
From 1997 to 1999 he was President of the Bermuda Bar Association and before that served as its Honorary Secretary and then Vice-President.
Mr Hargun is a member of ARIAS US, the leading dispute resolution organisation in the United States for the insurance and reinsurance industry. He has contributed to a number of books on commercial law in Bermuda and is a member of COMBAR, the specialist organisation of the English Commercial Bar.
He is also a member of the LCIA [London Court of International Arbitration] and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, two of the leading international arbitration institutions.
Update 6.14pm: An affront to the elected Government of Bermuda,” Premier David Burt today after the Governor announced Mr Hargun as the new Chief Justice, with the Premier saying that the Governor is required to consult with the Premier, and the Governor did consult with him and he “shared with him that this Government could not support the recommendation.” Full statement here.
Excellent choice.
Agreed. If people don’t like the decision the governor made then they are welcome to go find another country to live in!
Bad Choice..
Reaps of conflict
How many Reaps?
1 reap = 4 cups
Reaps of conflict?
Please tell us why you say that? He has acted for Government before, both the PLP Government and the OBA Government. Where is the conflict?
Can you elaborate?
How?
Burgess must be WEXXED!! Lmao
Well said Justin.. He a status Bermudian with a lot of experience to bring forth!! Wishing him the best..
Chief of justice for people who have been unjustly treated for centuries.
Like de fox guardung de hen house.
It would be interesting to learn who the candidates were.
Ms Charles etna simmons and Larry musenden
Both born bermudians
Only 1 of whom has 15 years experience on the bench.
Charles etna simmons and Larry musenden
Both born Bermudians
This guy was the lawyer that presided over the coin
Against the plp and has a … attitude I was there
A commendable selection.
When you control the courts you keep control of your privilege and supremacy…..Another step backwards for equality in this country (as expected)
Hey frank put that in ya pipe and smoke it ! Is what it is just like the governments!
The race card seems to be the only trump (pardon the pun) in the deck for the PLP supporters and the Government MPs. The word used is born Bermudian but that does not exist There are no born Bermudians of any race in Bermuda. There are people who legal have Bermudian status because they fit a category as outlined in the appropriate legislation but that can range for any number of persons. Not one single solitary person every got status for being born here they got it via other legal requirements. The code which is being used when someone plays this card is that they are not of African descent. It was thought that at one point it might mean anyone not considered to be white but clearly the uproar over a non white, non African Bermudian appears to shut that down. We are a small place and we continue to demonstrate we have small closed minds. Our motivators are emotive and without reason in most cases.
Congrats Narinder.
Great appointment.
The Governor has robbed a deserving Bermudian lawyer ,black or white , born between 1955 and 1965 , of the chance to serve their country in the highest judicial office . Sad
Narinder Hargun is one of the most brilliant lawyers eligable to fill this new position, both the other canditates cannot come close to his integrity and caliber.
Julian Hall brought this man to Bermuda…! He has worked on a case I was very close to. I am fourth generation Bermudian.
Best of luck to you Mr. Hargun.