Attorney Danielle Benjamin, the daughter of popular former attorney, Magistrate and Acting Judge, John Benjamin, KC, was admitted to the Bar on the morning of Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, at the High Court in The Valley.
Danielle Benjamin is a practicing attorney in the US, and she is currently attached to Webster LP, Attorney Pam Webster’s chambers here. Attorney Webster presented Attorney Benjamin to the Bar before the sitting High Court Judge, His Lordship the Hon. Justice Ermin Moise, in the presence of fellow barristers.
Attorney Webster introduced Ms. Benjamin as a resident of Miami, Florida. “She is a national of the United States, as well as a national of Anguilla,” she said, “and she is making this application to be admitted as a barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, in the Anguilla circuit.”
“Ms. Benjamin shares that on December 12th 2019, she was awarded the Degree of Master of Laws and a Degree of Juris Doctor by the University of Miami, School of Law,” Attorney Webster said. “On May 18th 2023, she was awarded a Legal Education Certificate by Eugene Dupuch Law School of Nassau, Bahamas.”
Attorney Webster further stated that now at the age of 21, Attorney Benjamin testified that she has satisfied the requirements of the Legal Profession Act 2016, and that she is of good character as an Attorney of Law. She purported to be in good standing in the United States, and she is duly qualified to be admitted as a barrister-at-law of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
“Miss Benjamin is the daughter of John Benjamin, KC. She had lived in Anguilla as a young person and has had come from a long tradition of lawyers,” Attorney Webster noted.
Miss Benjamin mentioned that one of the qualities that distinguished her father’s legal practice was the weight he placed on constitutional law, as was evident through his dedication as the host of his historic radio programme, Talk Your Mind.
In response, His Lordship, the Hon. Justice Ermin Moise, said he was satisfied with Attorney Benjamin’s application, and that he had granted the order. He assented to the application and invited Attorney Benjamin to join the Bar by taking the oath.
After taking the oath, Attorney Benjamin expressed her gratitude: “Thank you, my Lord, and thanks to everyone who has assisted me in getting to this point,” she said. “I have yet to become familiar with the niceties and courtesies of the Court, but indeed I will find my way there, and I do thank you all for the opportunity.”
The Hon. Justice Ermin Moise, and the fellow-barristers present extended a warm welcome to her.
In welcoming her, among other hospitable pronouncements, the Hon. Justice Ermin Moise told Attorney Benjamin: “I have never met your father, but his reputation speaks for itself.”
Due to physical limitations and his confinement (which Attorney Webster had previously alluded to as part of the “cycle of life”) retired Attorney John Benjamin, KC, was unfortunately unable to witness his daughter’s induction to the Bar. Representing Mr. Benjamin’s law firm, however, was Ms. Patricia Hodge, a paralegal at Caribbean Juris Chambers.
