New Court of Appeal President Slated for January Swearing in

With characteristic avoidance of fanfare, Sir John Chadwick said his goodbyes in late November, having completed his last sitting as President of the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal. Sir John formally retires from his seven-year tenure mid-January.

Sir John’s successor Sir John Goldring is expected to be sworn in January, 2016.

Prior to Sir John Chadwick’s departure in late November, colleagues and staff at the Cayman Islands Courts gathered for an informal farewell ceremony that was markedly understated, in compliance with the wishes of the departing Court of Appeal President. The highlight of the brief ceremony was a portrait unveiling, with Sir John’s framed photograph joining other judicial luminaries’ displayed in the lobby adjacent to Courts 1 and 2.

At the informal ceremony, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie said that while the Judicial Administration had sought to honour Sir John’s request to keep his departure formalities “as quiet as possible,” he “could not conceive of Sir John leaving without thanking him, however modestly, for his service.”

The Chief Justice described Sir John’s judgments as “brimming with intellect and depth of knowledge of the workings of the law,” adding that it had been “a privilege to have had Sir John serve the Cayman Islands Courts for seven years.”

In turn, Sir John spoke of how honoured he felt to have served here in Cayman. He noted that he was leaving behind “an extremely strong team,” and thanked the Chief Justice for all his support of the team.

In his brief remarks, Sir John commented that with his departure there was “not a single judgment left outstanding,” from the final sitting of the 2015 session over which he presided.

The departing Court of Appeal President thanked the administrative staff supporting the work of the Court of Appeal. In particular, he paid tribute to Ms Audrey Bodden, the Registrar of the Court of Appeal; court shorthand officers Ms Karen WoonSam, Ms Carol Rouse and Senior Court Reporter Karen Myren (who was unavoidably absent); and Marshal “JR” Douglas, who was off-island.

“I am going feeling that I am leaving the Court of Appeal in very good hands,” Sir John said.

Following the portrait unveiling, the Chief Justice presented on behalf of the Judicial Administration tokens of appreciation to Sir John.

With the departure of Sir John Chadwick, Sir John Goldring will take on the Presidency of the Court of Appeal following his swearing in on 20 January 2016.

The new Court of Appeal President comes to Cayman following an illustrious career in the legal services and judicature of England and Wales most recently as a Lord Justice of Appeal and the Senior Presiding Judge.

PHOTO

Judicial and legal colleagues and staff at the Courts gather for the last time with the outgoing President of the Court of Appeal, Sir John Chadwick, rear centre.

Back Row: Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn, Chair of JLSC Ormond Williams, Sir Richard Field, Sir Bernard Rix, Sir John Chadwick, Ms. Audrey Bodden, Kevin McCormac, Mr. John Martin QC Front Row: Justice Richard Williams, Acting Justice Michael Mettyear, Ms. Deborah Bodden, Justice Ingrid Mangatal, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, Justice Charles Quin