Managing Partner in the Anguilla law firm of Keithley Lake & Associates, Attorney Yvette Wallace, has been appointed Acting High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court for a period of six weeks.
Ms. Wallace, who is in her third year as President of the Anguilla Bar Association, will take up her appointment in the Nevis Circuit on September 1. She has been with Keithley Lake Associates for sixteen years and for the last ten years has been serving as the Managing Partner there.
“The High Court has asked for my assistance and I am always supportive of the judicial system. Therefore I have accepted the temporary appointment,” she told The Anguillian. “I know there are many who hope that it will be much longer, but my other responsibilities prevent me from doing that. However, I will see how it works out in six weeks.”
Ms. Wallace is a graduate of the Law Faculty of the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School. October 22 will make twenty years since she was admitted to the Bar. She worked in private practice all the years of her career including four years inJamaica, her original homeland, and now sixteen years in Anguilla.
Her appointment as Acting Judge was announced by the outgoing Anguilla High Court Judge, Justice Louise Blenman, who has been appointed an Appeals Court Judge. She made the announcement on Monday this week while responding to farewell remarks by Ms. Wallace to whom she offered her good wishes.
“Congratulations, and [your appointment] is well deserved,” Justice Blenman told Ms. Wallace to the applause of the lawyers and other persons in the Court. “Don’t look at the pay cheque. As Sir Hugh has said, it is a labour of love…I would say to you, it is the greatest satisfaction you can get from serving people. I am sure you will be an excellent judge…”
