First female chief justice sworn into office
(CNS): Margaret Ramsay-Hale has become the first female Cayman Islands chief justice and the first CJ to be sworn in at the courthouse in public. She will hold office until at least April 2031. Wearing her late father’s legal robes, Ramsay-Hale took her oath of office Tuesday before the local bench, lawyers, politicians and online viewers. The outgoing chief justice, Sir Anthony Smellie, said it was a “remarkable and historic double first”.
“But as she might be wont to say herself… this is not her first rodeo,” Sir Anthony noted, as she was also the first-ever female chief justice in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ramsay-Hale served here as chief magistrate and on the Grand Court bench before moving to the TCI. She returned here at the beginning of 2020 and was selected last month to succeed Sir Anthony, who has retired after 30 years. The outgoing CJ described the job as tough with many challenges and difficulties, all done in the glare of public scrutiny.
“No public official is more accountable than a member of the judiciary,” he said, noting the media scrutiny, not just locally but further afield, given the commercial work of the local courts.
Ramsay-Hale was sworn in by Governor Martyn Roper, who welcomed her to the post. Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, in his address, told the new CJ that “with a career trajectory spanning nearly 25 years of experience in diverse courts across the region, it is without question that you are now a seasoned judiciary professional”.
Director of Public Prosecutions Simon Davis said that Ramsay-Hale had demonstrated “multi-faceted abilities and hard work ethic to address a wide variety of legal issues at the very highest level”.
He was followed by Richard Barton, who made an address on behalf of the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA) in the absence of the president, Erik Bodden. He spoke about Ramsay-Hale’s well-known compassion for defendants in her criminal work and the respect she has for attorneys.
When she gave her own address, the new chief justice said it was overwhelming as this was an “appointment to her home court”. As tears rolled down her cheeks, she asked those present to forgive her for “an unseemly display” from a judge who should be stoic.
CJ Ramsay-Hale paid tribute to the departing chief justice before outlining her own plans for the future of the courts. She spoke about establishing a blueprint for court excellence by adopting international performance standards for the service the courts deliver to the people.
As she closed, she said the public response to her appointment was nothing short of extraordinary, as she extended her thanks to the people for their warmth and confidence. She said her only hope was that she did not disappoint them as it was their affection she felt and appreciated the most.
See the full ceremony on CIGTV below:
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Category: Local News
She is a great example of how to pursue your goals, and never giving up on your dreams no matter the obstacles.
When denied the role of Justice because of “lack of experience”, despite being a hell of a Chief Magistrate, she went and got the experience.
She came back and secured the post of Justice.
Now she is history in the flesh as the first female Chief Justice for Cayman.
Well done Chief Justice Ramsey-Hale. Well done indeed.
Looking forward to modern court system, including traffic court on Saturdays so peo0le do not have to lose a days pay for a minor offence.
Congrats Judgie.
Pay it online and drive safer.
CJ Margaret Ramsey-Hale is a treasure that we should be proud to have as our Chief Justice.
She is in touch with the people and has balanced her scholastic legal acumen (well proven) with her ability to play dominoes and have a nice time (all the while remaining responsible as to her conduct). Down to earth as demonstrated in her heart-felt swearing in remarks .
A class act. Respect and good luck to her going forward
This was, perhaps, one of the most historic events that I am grateful to have been blessed to be in attendance at, as an attorney, in the Cayman Islands.
It was an dignified and memorable passing of the baton of the office of Chief Justice from the Right Hon. Sir Anthony Smellie KC to the Hon. Margaret Ramsay-Hale CJ.
Whilst Sir Anthony has left significant shoes to fill, I have the greatest of confidence that Hon. Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale is up to the task. And, with the highest caliber of Magistrates of the Summary Court, Justices of the Grand Court and Justices of Appeal in the Court of Appeal, the Cayman Islands judicial arm of government is in good hands.
I am grateful to know that Hon. Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale is at the helm guiding the judicial administration ship as Captain.
As a former criminal law student at the Cayman Islands Law School (now Truman Bodden Law School), where Hon. Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale (former Chief Magistrate at the time) used a unique lecturing style, which employed comedy and competence, that laughed us into to learning criminal law by bringing the legal principles to life that have remained with me (as well as many others) to present day.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the case of R v Collins, where the defendant shimmied up a ladder with only his socks on — that is one case that I doubt anyone, who had the privilege of being taught criminal law by Hon. Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale, will ever be able to erase from our memory banks, even if we tried, for the entirety of our lives.
I wish Sir Anthony, who has one of the most distinguished legacies on the Bench and prior thereto at the Bar, the very best with all future endeavors and, without doubt, he leaves the legal profession with one of the most rich deposits of case-law authorities that will be cited for decades to come.
I wish Hon. Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale the very best as she now embarks on this new post, as the head of the judicial arm of government, in the Cayman Islands. And I have no doubt that she will (like Sir Anthony) continue to set the judicial bar at the highest level of competence and leave a legacy that will be hard to match in any jurisdiction.
Also, with the caliber of those in the judiciary, the Cayman Islands is in good and capable hands for years to come.
CJ Ramsey-Hale , Congratulations. Well done in an amazing dedicated career path thus far.
Well deserved.
Congratulations to Mrs. Ramsey-Hale. A lady of class and stature and one who will do the Office proud. I am very happy that I lived to see this day.
However, as I did not get to watch the proceedings live I decided to watch it in the quiet of my study last night on YouTube. Firstly, it did not start at 2:00 pm as stated. That seems to be the trend these days. If Government says something will start at 2:0pm in reality in means anytime after that.
Secondly, I became totally disjointed when she and The Governor went to do the actual swearing in to see that the requisite documentation was not there. This was revealed later to be the actual Oaths of Office. So here we have the highest judicial position in the Country being sworn him by none other than the Governor and the documentation cannot be found! Shame, I say. Shame! This simply cannot be tolerated. The Officer(s) responsible should be fired by now and those supervising her should be suspended from duty for at least a month without pay. And to add salt to the wound everyone in the room just takes it as a normal occurrence, with them just going around joking to each other in a very lackadaisical manner. Unbelieveable!
The outgoing Chief Justice is a good man. But can you believe he cannot properly pronounce the word judicature and pronounces the word honour with a resounding emphasis on the letter “h”!
Then we got to the part with the Attorney General, Mr. “Bungling” got up to say something. I am glad that in your article above you chose not to put in his remarks. Because no one knows what he actually said. After he started off by muttering that he did not know how to address her I gave up and turned the recording off and retired in total disgust.
Is this what our Deputy Governor boasts of as a “world class civil service”? Certainly, you jest.
Mrs. Ramsey-Hale, I wish you nothing but the best in your tenure as our Chief Justice. May God Bless you in your work. But I know that you have your hands full in administering the sadly unprofessional staff under you. My suggestion is that you start by cleaning house and get in a new breed that will make you and the Country proud.
They all need to be fired. How could all sit in their positions with not ascertaining that the papers were there. Before a court commences the first thing you have to ensure that the papers are in court. The swearing in was no different. It is no secret that the courts are in a mess just reading the auditor general report is quite enough. Just try doing business there will speak for it self.
Poor Chief Justice Ramsay-hale you are in for a task.
I hope she will avoid the big wig.
Ms Ramsay spoke from the heart with great passion. I believe she will do Cayman proud. Good luck madam.
Perhaps she could start by fulfilling her obligation, as regulator of the bar, and call for the prosecution of not only those that are practicing Cayman Law without being admitted, but those who are facilitating and profiting from it within the Cayman Islands?
Well, you need to report these alleged scofflaws to her. Otherwise, it just seems like jealous gossip.
Done. Multiple times. Bit like unlawful vendors on the beach. Widespread. Obvious. Criminal. Ignored. Damaging.
Buddy, if you can’t make an inflated income relative to ability as things are, then the problem is you not the people you blame for your own mediocrity.
Reported repeatedly and openly discussed for a generation. Who do you think is staffing the various law firm offices in Hong Kong and elsewhere?