Cayman court experience more diverse than London

Dame Linda Dobbs

(CNS): A leading former British judge who served in the high court for many years in the UK described the work she has being doing in Cayman over the last few weeks as a visiting judge as more diverse that the work she used to do in London. Dame Linda Dobbs was sworn in earlier this month as an acting judge in the Cayman Islands Grand Court and during this visit she will be hearing cases until 16 December.

Dame Linda said that the scope of work here offered an even broader variety than the wide range she experienced as a High Court Judge in London and that she has been “struck by the warmth and friendliness of the people, the lush greenery and the beautiful beaches”. She added, “I can understand why there is great pride in these islands.”

Justice Dame Linda is among a panel of judges approved by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) to sit as acting judges in the courts to address the mounting case load.

The Grand Court is still short of full-time judges and the criminal court is particularly dependent on acting and visiting judges as the local full-time bench members are is dealing with financial, civil and family cases. The chief justice is involved in the ongoing case of AHAB v Saad, a massive dispute between to Saudi entities that is expected to last several more months, leaving Justice Charles Quin to deal with the bulk of the growing criminal case load.

Justice Quin welcomed the temporary judge on behalf of the chief justice. “It is a distinct pleasure to have Dame Linda with us, as she brings with her not only a reservoir of knowledge gained as a member of the UK judiciary at the highest levels but also her clear passion for the law,” he said.

Following a successful career at the British Bar, Dame Linda was appointed to the UK High Court in 2004, stepping down in 2013. While on the bench she served as the senior liaison judge for diversity, chair of the magisterial and international committees of the judicial college, and a Fawcett commissioner, which focuses on women in the criminal justice system.

During her time on the UK bench she also conducted the Stuart Hall Inquiry, a part of the Saville enquiry into the BBC’s practices and culture surrounding the cases of historical sexual abuse perpetrated by celebrities that worked there.

Since she retired from the UK bench, she was appointed to the Independent Commissioner for Miscarriages of Justice Compensation. Regionally Dame Linda has worked with the Bahamas’ government on the “Swift Justice” programme and other projects in the Caribbean. She is also serving as the current president of the International Lawyers for Africa (ILA) and recently become the Director of Training at the Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA).