John appointed Queen’s Counsel

Local Barrister-at-Law, Stanley John has been appointed as Queen’s Counsel for the territories served by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.{{more}}

John, who has been an attorney for the past 37 years, was officially appointed by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court on February 12.

The veteran attorney has been appointed as one of the Counsels for the States and Colonies to which the jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court extends. These are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat, and any dependencies of any such States or Colonies.

In a brief interview with John on Wednesday, he noted that because the appointment was made by an independent process of peers and other judicial officials who have had the opportunity to assess his efforts in the profession over the years, he is thankful to be a Queen’s Counsel.

“It gives a sense of satisfaction that those efforts are recognized to be consistent with the high traditions of an advocate and a barrister practising…,” John stated.

In 2004, John was invited to submit application for the position of Queen’s Counsel. Two years later, the Eastern Caribbean Court made recommendation for his appointment as Queen’s Counsel.

John was again nominated in January 2014 by Chief Justice Dame Janice Pereira.

When asked about the long process, John said “for reasons unexplained, the issuance of the letters patent making the appointment were not effected until now.”

The 63-year-old, a former student of the St Vincent Grammar School, attended the Faculty of Laws at University College London, where in 1976, he graduated with LLB (Hons) and entered the Inns of Courts School of Law, from where he was admitted to the degree of Utter Barrister at Gray’s Inn, London in July 1977.

John subsequently became a pupil in the law chambers headed by Sir Louis Blom-Cooper QC at Queen Elizabeth Buildings, Temple, London.

In 1978, John returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines and was admitted to practise law before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

John was also active in politics, serving as a Government senator in the House of Assembly during 1983 and as an Opposition senator from 1984 to 1989.

He was a candidate for elections as a representative in the House of Assembly in General Elections between 1989 and 2001 and was elected as the representative for East St George in 1998.

John served at various times as editor of The Star newspaper and as public relations officer of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party (SVGLP) and from 1992 to 1994 as the political leader.

John expressed gratituted to the Chief Justice and the Silk Review Committee and those involved, for his appointment.

He also thanked his colleagues, staff at Elizabeth Law Chambers and his family for their support.

He also lauded the support of his son, R. Akin John, who has been engaged in law practice with him since 2006.

The local Bar Association also extended congratulations to John on his appointment.