Justice Monica Joseph welcomed back on bench

Justice Monica Joseph is back!

In a brief ceremony presided over by Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne, and witnessed by Justice Frederick Bruce Lyle, at Government House, last Wednesday, October 1, Justice Joseph was sworn in to serve as a temporary resident judge.{{more}}

On the front page of the January 12, 1996, issue of the SEARCHLIGHT, Justice Joseph was pictured wearing a broad smile as she walked from the High Court yard, for what many presumed to have been the last time.

This is after her application for an extension of her service was rejected by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Heads of Government to the disgust of the local and OECS Bar Associations.

Then local Bar Association President, Agnes Cato had attempted to meet with then Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell on the issue but to no avail. A similar attempt by the OECS Bar Association to get clarification on the rejection also failed to bear fruit.

At a special court sitting to say farewell to Justice Joseph on January 9, 1996, tears flowed, and angry legal practitioners demanded an explanation for the OECS Heads’ decision, which some described as sexist.

A male judge’s application for an extension had been granted around the same time.

The then Attorney General Carlyle Dougan QC broke down several times during his address to the court on Justice Joseph’s behalf.

When he addressed last Wednesday’s ceremony, Sir Frederick welcomed Justice Joseph back, while Justice Bruce Lyle said that the judiciary is happy to be able to share her experience.

For her part, Justice Joseph vowed to serve to the best of her ability.

So back in 1996, the January 12 headline read “Farewell, Fair Judge.” Now it might as well be “Welcome Back, Fair Judge.” (KJ)