New faces to appear on Grand Court bench

(L-R) Court Administrator Kevin McCormac, Acting Justice Robin McMillan, Governor Helen Kilpatrick, Justice Ingrid Mangatal and Chief Justice Anthony Smellie

(CNS): With the departure of Justice Alex Henderson from the courts this month, the appointment of two new judges, who begin presiding today (Thursday 8 January), will be welcomed by an already stretched bench. Justice Ingrid Mangatal joins the Cayman judiciary from Jamaica full time, while local attorney Justice Robin McMillan has assumed an acting position.

Officials from the court said Justice Mangatal has extensive experience both as a judge and advocate in Jamaica in its criminal, civil and commercial jurisdictions. She has already served locally as an Acting Grand Court Judge since 2009.

Acting Justice McMillan is a qualified lawyer in Cayman, Bermuda, Hong Kong, England and Wales, Northern Ireland and California. He specialises in international commercial litigation, insolvency trusts, company law, judicial review and public law.

Chief Justice Anthony Smellie said he was pleased to be able to welcome the new judges to the Cayman judiciary. He said they brought a depth of knowledge and expertise which is in evermore demand because of the increasing numbers of complex and challenging cases coming before the courts.

“Our ability to continue to respond to these demands is assured for the future with the appointment of such dedicated and capable judges,” the chief justice added.

Justice Mangatal will serve as one of the four resident full-time judges working in the financial services, family, general civil and criminal divisions of the Grand Court, while Justice McMillan will serve as an acting judge as the need arises in family, general civil and the criminal divisions.

“The fact that he is also resident on island will enhance our ability to assign cases to him,” Chief Justice Smellie said.