Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, acknowledging ‘the gravity and importance of this office’ and pledging to do ‘my best’.
Boodoosingh, who succeeds Justice Ivor Archie, who announced his retirement on Tuesday, was sworn in by Acting President Wade Mark under Section 102 of the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution, which states ‘The Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition’.
Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago in the presence of the Acting President, Wade Mark
The new chief justice, who was appointed a Justice of Appeal on September 14, 2020, having previously served as a Puisne Judge since September 2007,’ thanked Archie for his ‘significant contribution to the judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago both in terms of the scholarship of his judgement and the leadership he has offered to the judiciary’.
He said he had done so at the expense of ‘personal sacrifice’ and that he country owes him ‘the deepest debt of gratitude’.
The Chief Justice said he wanted to re-assure the population of his commitment to Trinidad and Tobago and that he intends to perform in the position ‘to the best of my ability.
‘I give you my commitment of hard work, of dedication to duty and that through it all, I will try to walk humbly. I understand how important this office is to the nation, to our country. I will attempt to build on the platform of the previous chief justice and the chief justices who have gone before me to ensure that when it is time to move on.that I would leave the judiciary in a better place’.
Justice Boodoosingh was admitted to practise as an attorney at law in October 1992 and latter joined the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions where he spent seven years prosecuting cases at various jurisdictional levels. In 2001, he became a lecturer at the Hugh Wooding Law School where he was the Director of the Trial Advocacy programme and taught Ethics, among other courses.
Justice Boodoosingh is the holder of the Master of Laws degree (Merit) specialising in International Dispute Resolution from the University of London. He has been certified as an adult education trainer by the University of the West Indies, an advocacy trainer by Gray’s Inn, and a Judicial Education Trainer by the University College of London. He continues to function as tutor to the Trial Advocacy Programme at the Law School of the University of the West Indies.
The author of four books, including a textbook on Trial Advocacy, Justice Boodoosingh has also been trained in settlement conferencing and mediation and has conducted Judicial Settlement Conferences.