New Chief Justice appointed for Bermuda

Friday, December 19, 2003

HAMILTON, Bermuda: The Governor of Bermuda, Sir John Vereker, announced Thursday that Mr Richard Ground OBE, QC currently Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be the new Chief Justice of Bermuda.

The appointment of a new Chief Justice, occasioned by the retirement of Mr Austin Ward QC, had generated a widely publicised disagreement between the Governor of the British Crown colony and Bermuda Premier Alex Scott. The Governor had recommended Mr Richard Ground for the position while Mr Scott wanted it to go to naturalised Bermudian Norma Wade-Miller.

Bermuda Public Service Union general secretary Edward Ball also urged Bermudians to kick up a storm if Mrs Wade Miller did not get the job, saying it would fly in the face of the message that talented and qualified Bermudians will eventually got the top posts.

The Governor then said that, in the circumstances, it was a decision he was not prepared to take in Bermuda and referred the matter to the UK Foreign Secretary.

In making the announcement of Mr Ground's appointment, Government House released the following statement:

"The Secretary of State, when considering the Chief Justice appointment, took careful note of the views of the Hon Premier, which had been explained to him by the Governor and expressed to Mr Rammell [Overseas Territories Minister] directly by the Premier during his visit to London earlier this month.

"He also took careful note of the view of the panel convened to recommend a candidate, and of the Governor's own advice (which remains, of course, confidential).

"He concluded that Mr Ground would be the best Chief Justice for Bermuda. He had confidence that he would work energetically and effectively to improve the administration of justice, and that he would bring to bear a wide range of skill and experience on the cases that came before him.

"Mr Rammell, in conveying this decision to the Governor and to the Premier, has made it clear that it is not appropriate for the post of Chief Justice to become the subject of political pressure." 

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