Cindy Clarke: Director Of Public Prosecutions
[Updated] Governor John Rankin announced that Cindy Clarke will be appointed as Bermuda’s Director of Public Prosecutions with effect from Friday, December 4th, 2020.
The Governor said, “I am pleased to appoint Cindy Clarke as Bermuda’s next Director of Public Prosecutions. She will bring to the position a wealth of experience, including as Crown Counsel since 2000 and as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions since 2011. I wish Ms Clarke well in her new role.”
Ms Clarke studied law at the University of Kent and then at the BPP Law School in London. She was appointed as a Crown Counsel in the Department of Public Prosecutions in 2000 and became a Senior Crown Counsel in 2009. In 2011 she was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions.
She has appeared at all levels in the Courts of Bermuda as well as the Privy Council, and has experience of all branches of criminal law, including Child Safeguarding, Money Laundering and other areas of serious crime. She is currently the Vice President of the Bermuda Bar Council.
The Governor also announced that Mr Larry Mussenden will take up his position as a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court following a swearing in ceremony at Government House on Thursday, 3 December.
The Governor said, “I am grateful to Mr Mussenden for continuing in his work as Director of Public Prosecutions during a busy period. I am pleased he will now be able to take up his seat on the Supreme Court and wish him well in his further service to Bermuda.”
Update 12.58pm: Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley congratulated Larry Mussenden on his appointment as Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, and Cindy Clarke as the new Director of Public Prosecutions.
Commissioner Corbishley said, “I applaud the achievements of Mr. Larry Mussenden in his role as Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP]. The Bermuda Police Service [BPS] and office of the Director have a close working relationship to ensure the connection between law enforcement and justice in Bermuda is effective.
“There are many things that the DPPs office deal with that are not seen by the public. Their role is challenging, balancing cases to proceed to court in the public interest and making judgements in support of victims. Mr. Mussenden has shown great leadership in his role and has achieved much that sets the DPP in a far greater position to deal with the challenges of 2020 and beyond.
“I further congratulate him on his appointment as Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, a role I am aware he is delighted to be appointed to.
“I am also extremely pleased to learn of the appointment of Ms. Cindy Clarke as the new Director of Public Prosecutions. Ms Clarke already has a strong relationship with the BPS and has been a lead advocate within many difficult and complex cases, not least as a champion of matters affecting victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. I very much look forward to the BPS working with her going forward.”
