The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Anguilla Circuit held a Special Sitting in honour of the newly appointed Honourable Justice Ermin Moise to the High Court on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
The session was preceded by a guard of honour made up of a contingent of the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
H.E. Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selveratnam, along with Police Commissioner Paul Lynch, and others, attended the Special Sitting of the Court. Members of the legal profession and the Anguilla Courts were also in attendance to welcome His Lordship to the High Court of Anguilla.
Speaking on behalf of the Attorney General Chambers, Attorney at Law, Nakishma Rogers-Hull, Senior Crown Council, welcomed Justice Moise to the court and noted: “The Attorney General has expressed willingness to work with the Bench and with you, my Lord. He has committed to discharging his duties as an officer of your court with integrity and respect to the court.”
As to her own intentions, Ms Rogers-Hull said: “I wish to express my willingness and my promise to discharge my duties, as an officer of your court, with integrity, honour and honesty, and trust that your tenure here, my Lord, will usher in an era of mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench. While we present to the public that this is a noble profession, I believe it is a characterisation and reputation that must be earned and we, as officers in your court, have to work with you to ensure that when we present to the public that this is indeed a noble profession, we can do so with confidence.”
Speaking on behalf of the Council and the Anguilla Bar Association, Ms. Merline Barrett welcomed His Lordship and noted: “It is my pleasant duty to welcome you on taking up duties as resident judge, and to wish you a successful and rewarding term of office.”
She acknowledged the challenges faced by the court, and by the judges of the court, in the administration of justice, “as they seek to command the respect of all.” She observed that in Anguilla, those challenges tend to “fall into three broad categories: the facilities under which you operate, the laws you have to administer, and the people.” However, she expressed “every confidence in [His Lordship’s] ability to rise above the challenges and continue to perform [his] service to the court with distinction.”
Joyce Kentish, QC, and Thomas Astaphan, QC, also welcomed His Lordship to the Anguilla High Court and encouraged him on the journey through his tenure. Mr Astaphan recounted that this court has the distinguished history of producing, from this Bench, Chief Justices and Presidents of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Directly addressing His Lordship, Mr Astaphan, QC, noted: “My Lord, you sit today, in a seat that has a distinguished history…a history which Your Lordship must subscribe to. Your appointment to Anguilla recognises that you have the qualities necessary to do so, and I have no doubt that you will eventually reach to those heights.
“Your Lordship is in a role which is distinguished by its separation from other arms of government, and from the people whom you serve and who appear before you. Those lines can become blurred sometimes, but be vigilant that those lines [aren’t crossed]. It is a pleasure to have you in Anguilla. Your reputation has preceded you as a judge of high quality.”
His Lordship, Honourable Justice Ermin Moise, took the opportunity to thank those in attendance for their presence, words of welcome and encouragement. He spoke directly to members of the Anguilla Courts, and the legal profession, about the work they would embark upon as a judicial system – comparing the judiciary to the priesthood.
He said: “The judiciary is akin to the priesthood – the branch of government that separates itself, dresses in strange clothes, and relies on the resources of those around us to make the system work. That puts us very often in a lonely place.
“As we work together – Bench and Bar – we do what is necessary to ensure that the justice system works. While the justice system needs resources to function, we cannot stop delivering justice. I make the case that resources are not an excuse for us to not do our work, because resources are not an excuse for criminals to stop committing crimes [and] for persons to not have conflict with each other. [Regardless of our resources] we have pen and paper and can sit and deliberate on justice – and we will deliver justice. That is the assurance I give to you.
his wife and mother-in-law
“It is important that the public has confidence in the work that we do. We need to understand as attorneys that law and justice is not a ‘personal fightingdom’ for us; it is a place where people come to resolve their conflicts. We have to place the litigant as the priority. We must do our best to deliver justice in a timely and transparent manner. There must be finality to litigation and [we must] recognise that there is a Court of Appeal.
“During my tenure in this jurisdiction, I will do my best to uphold the integrity of the justice system. I intend to uphold the standards of integrity required, and do as much as possible to ensure that my family – who is here with me – will do the same. I ask only that you join me.”
The Honourable Justice Ermin Moise is accompanied to Anguilla by his wife, Mavis Moise, and their two children. He stated that they provide an anchor which he believes will help him to perform his task as resident judge of the High Court of Anguilla.
