Foldats takes top job in Summary Courts
(CNS): Valdis Foldats has been appointed chief magistrate following the retirement of Nova Hall. Foldats will take up the top job on the Summary Court bench next month following the internal recruitment by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which recommended the long-serving magistrate for the job. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie said Foldats is a very well respected magistrate who has served the court for over eleven years.
“His colleagues and I welcome his appointment and look forward to his continued innovative work on the Diversionary Courts,” the chief justice said. “While we will formally bid goodbye to Chief Magistrate Hall at the Opening of the Grand Court later this month, I take this opportunity to thank Chief Magistrate for her leadership and dedication since her appointment,” Smellie added.
Governor Martyn Roper said he was pleased to appoint Foldats, adding that he was confident “his skills, experience, knowledge, passion, and commitment will all serve him well”. Roper also thanked Hall for her commitment over the past ten years.
Foldats was called to called to the bar in Canada in 1984 before moving to Cayman, where he spent fifteen years practicing law in the areas of criminal, coroner and disciplinary proceedings.
In 1999 he began working in the Judicial Administration as the registrar of appeal/senior deputy clerk before being promoted to the clerk of court, where he served for nine years. During this time he also gained experience as an acting magistrate. He was appointed a full-time magistrate by former governor Duncan Taylor in October 2011.
My childhood friend has made Toronto Canada proud of Valdis’s accomplishments. He is someone who is down to earth and trust worthy and Cayman’s gain is Canada’s loss. To think at one time he had hair down near his waist, no signs of that anymore. 🙂 He’s not only really smart, he’s a pretty dam good hockey player and wrestler!
A very welcome appointment.
I must say, as the only Judge ever to impose a sentence on me, I found Valdis to be a model of fairness.
Congratulations Mr.Foldats. May God continue to bless you with health and strength.
I hope he will be as tough on crime as Cayman needs. He really hasn’t been so far.
Obvious choice. Delighted with it. Very best wishes to him.
Well done Mr Foldats one of best magistrates to ever sit on the bench.Congratulations Sir!
Congrats to an amazing and honorable gentleman of the Courts. Very proud to have worked with you. Continue to execute with integrity.
Congrats and best wishes to a man of profound decency and sound thinking.
Thank you, Chief Magistrate Foldats, for your excellence in service in this most critical role to the people of the Cayman Islands.
At least we won’t get any complaints about Jamaican influence. After 15 years practicing law here, 12 years in judicial administration, and 9 years as a magistrate this appointment is not only well earned, but long overdue.
Guess was probably a Jamaican who said hope he’s tough on crime in above post, which probably means his sentencing for Generational Caymanians was fair and not vindictive.
He has earned the respect many and yes I hope he doesn’t feel the need to fall for Jamaican influence as they are the majority and can create intimidation by that fact alone.
After Ramsey; he’s my favorite.
He is a very decent man who keeps his personal feelings in check.
Congratulations Valdis! You are a very fair person and will be excellent as chief magistrate. Well deserved.
I always found him to be a little skewed towards the Crown in alot of cases.
He’s the opposite. He’s not hard enough. The criminals are happy when they see he’s judging the case.
Very well deserved.
An excellent appointment. He is very sound.