After serving as High Court Judge in the Anguilla Circuit for three of her nine years on the Bench of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Justice Louise Blenman has been elevated to the position of Justice of theAppeal Court. She is due to take up residence inSt. Luciabefore September 10.
Justice Blenman, who is also Chairperson of the Judicial Education Institute, was lauded for her outstanding contribution to the Court, and for her personal performance and achievements, at a farewell ceremony in the Anguilla High Court on Monday this week. The event was well-attended by members of the private and public Bar, the Judicial Department, Government officials and members of the public.
The ceremony included addresses by some eleven persons to whose remarks Justice Blenman responded. Attorney General, James Wood, noted that the need for anyone to be an effective and responsible Judge could at times lead to a very solitary existence especially in a very small jurisdiction like Anguilla. He spoke about Justice Blenman’s dedication to duty and congratulated her on her elevation to theAppeal Court. He said she was leaving a legacy of dedication and for having been a Judge known for ensuring correctness, formality and propriety.
“Even at the most difficult of times, when issues of national importance have come before this Court, you ensured that no points were cut when it came to the judicial process,” he stated. “To do that would take a steely nerve – a nerve that is vital to ensuring the continued respect of this Honourable Court and Judicial System.”
President of the Anguilla Bar, Yvette Wallace, said in part: “It has been said that four things belonged to a Judge – to hear courteously; to answer wisely; to consider soberly; and to decide impartially. I would submit today, without fear of contradiction, that you, My Lady, has demonstrated these essential attributes in the period that you have served as High Court Judge in the various territories and certainly over the past three years you have been in this jurisdiction.”
Ms. Wallace told Justice Blenman that she was well known as a perfectionist. She went on: “Whether as lead Counsel in the High Court or Court of Appeal, or Chair of the many professional and other organisations you have led, all the various materials you have published, your strong sense of excellence and professionalism is uncompromising. You are a Judge who expects nothing less from those who work with you and appear before you. You have set the tone and the standards which we will follow and hope to emulate.”
Vice President of the Bar, Mrs. Josephine Gumbs-Connor, was the next speaker. “My Lady, what I can say is that over your stint here with us, I think it is fair to say that we have come to know you very well, particularly in the area, and in this arena, of the courtroom,” she said. “There is the danger, of course, because you do what you do so well that many of us may find ourselves repeating. But such is the nature of repetition – because it simply reflects the fact that you set a plumb line and you have maintained that plumb line.”
Mrs. Gumbs-Connor observed that there were a number of things that Justice Blenman had left, in the environment of the Anguilla High Court, that the members of the Bar would remember as she journeyed to the Court of Appeal. She listed those matters as communication between the Attorneys for the good of themselves, their clients and the Court; the principle of mediation which at times can be as effective as a full trial; her politeness and interest in maintaining “lines of respect between Bench and Bar, Bar and Bar, Bar and client, Bench and the witness”; and the tremendous benefits the Bar had obtained from her presence and work in Anguilla.
Mrs. Joyce Kentish-Egan acknowledged that in the Judge’s three years in Anguilla she did not have the opportunity to appear before her as often as she wished. “But I have appeared before you, My Lady,” she said. “I have done my researches and I think I am on very safe ground, especially having listened very carefully… to the special sitting of the Chief Justice when he was here…A very significant part of his address was dedicated to lauding you…Here is someone who epitomises self-sacrifice – not for personal gain but in the truest measure of service to the calling which you embraced, and we have seen that in you, My Lady. We have seen your commitment, dedication, and your readiness to go the extra mile.”
Mrs. Kentish-Egan went on: “Anguilla has been a challenging jurisdiction. It is a small jurisdiction but challenging and you, My Lady, had to knit the judiciary – the practice in the criminal and civil jurisdictions – and you had to intertwine and transfer from one to the other. You have done it with absolute ease and with excellent despatch.”
Ms. Paulette Harrigan saw three outstanding principles in Justice Blenman’s work. She identified them as being her adherence to the etiquette of the legal profession; her requirement for members of the Bar to communicate with each other in the best interest of their clients; and her admonition to them to prepare their cases properly.
Ms. Harrigan said that those and other contributions by Justice Blenman could only benefit the Bar and the practice of law in Anguilla. “That, My Lady is as a result of your guidance and your leadership in requiring us to address these issues in this manner,” she added.
Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge said in part: “Amidst all the various accolades that have been bestowed upon you, there are two aspects that I would like to underscore…The first is your ladyship’s unwavering dedication to the resolution of disputes here in Anguilla…The other aspect is in relation to the established protocols and professional standards at the Bar.”
Mrs. Richardson-Hodge continued: “I can dare say that you have left, as a result of your guidance, both in the mediation avenue, as well as in the protocols and professional standards, a way for us to move forward; to be better practitioners; more polite; and more respectful to each other, to our clients, and to the Bar. I can tell you, My Lady, that you have also left a more respectful and hardworking Bar.”
Senior Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Ivor Greene, was pleased that Justice Blenman was one of a number of High Court Judges inAnguillawho were appointed to the OECS Court of Appeal rather than to serve in other jurisdiction.
“My Lady, I consider you to be a nice Judge,” Mr. Greene acknowledged. “I guess it is probably due to your wealth of experience and the perspectives one develops from working with the state, in private practice, as well as having been both an Attorney and a Judge in different jurisdictions. You understand both the law and the people who it serves; the lawyer and his or her role; the client and the dynamics between lawyer and client…”
He added: “I appreciate your decorum, professionalism and the old school of good manners you inject in Court with your strict adherence to standards and respect for all parties and the Court…”
Senior Magistrate, Ivenia Benjamin, congratulated Justice Blenman for being the third female in the 40-year history of the Court to be appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal on a permanent basis. She saw the Judge’s appointment as being well-deserved.
“Your Ladyship is a woman of considerable experience, having obtained an Honour’s Degree in Law from the University of the West Indies in 1986,” the Magstrate continued. “You went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Law at the University of London in 2004. During the span of your career inGuyana, the land of your birth, you held the position of Acting Magistrate, 1988; State Counsel, 1988-1991; Senior Legal Adviser; Principal Legal Adviser; Deputy Solicitor-General. You also worked as a Law Lecturer at the University of Guyana, 1992-2000; and you later embarked on a private practicebefore migrating to the OECS where your assignment was Solicitor-General of St. Lucia. Three years later, in 2003, your ladyship was appointed as a Judge of the High Court, serving in several jurisdictions before taking up your appointment in Anguilla in 2009.
“It is well known that you are a person of spike, but gentle personality, not one given to trivialities. It is also very well known that you possess a fierce [respect] for the law…” Miss Benjamin praised the Judge for her intellectual capacity; dedication to hard work; and commitment to the independence and integrity of the law.
Mrs. Keesha Carty said the members of the Bar were better professionals having had the benefit of Justice Blenman on the Bench. “In the criminal arena, you have always been stern, yet fair. You have carefully balanced the interest of defendants, virtual complainants and the state. In civil litigation and in family [matters], I will greatly miss your off-the-record pronouncements which had the power to open the litigants’ eyes and encourage settlements in minutes when counsel had been proposing the same position for days, weeks or months…”
Mrs. Carty commended the Judge for her effective case management, the time she invested in each case and for teaching the lawyers to do likewise.
Ms Erica Edwards, one of the youngest lawyers, was grateful to Justice Blenman for the guidance she gave her in appearing before the Court.
“While I can give many stories about my appearances before you, My Lady, I will simply say that every time I appeared before you, you always gave me advice that I attempt to make use of everyday. I am ever grateful for the wisdom you have imparted to me…I look forward to appearing before you in your new role as Justice of Appeal.”
Newly-appointed Acting Judge in Anguilla, Justice Cynthia Combie Martyr, highlighted a number of the judicial achievements of Justice Blenman on the Bench. She mentioned, in particular, three of her judgments which received high acclaim in the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and in the Privy Council in London.
The Acting Judge spoke on various other matters relating to the outstanding work of Justice Blenman, and extended congratulations and best wishes to her on being appointed a Justice of Appeal.
Replying, Justice Blenman said: “My tenure here in Anguilla was wonderful, to say the least. In my view, the entire Court staff – both of the High Court and the Magistrate’s Court – contributed in this regard.”
She also expressed gratitude for the support of the Governor and Deputy Governor, Chief Minister Hughes and other Government Ministers and officials; Magistrates; all Lawyers of the private and public Bars, the Commissioner of Police and other ranks of the Force; the media which she praised for their work; and some selected members of the public with whom she has had interacted during the course of her service.
