Judge Ronnie Boodoosingh is the popular choice for Chief Justice who constitutionally is appointed by the President on the advice or consultation of the PM and Opposition Leader. The President is not restricted to their choice and is free to make his own selection.
There is substantial public and legal fraternity (judicial) support for the (sudden) selection by Acting President Wade Mark of Judge Boodoosingh as CJ to replace the Ivor Archie who retired as Chief Justice on October 22.there has not been any public opposition to Judge Boodoosingh who has been deemed by the legal fraternity, politicians, and the public to be the most qualified among potential candidates for the position of CJ.
When CJ Archie announced his planned retirement a few weeks ago, Dr Vishnu Bisram (pollster) of NACTA consulted dozens of members of the legal fraternity, MPs (including Senators), civil society, and the public for their preference among current judges to replace the departing CJ. While much of the public, expressing lack of knowledge and did not have much to say about the replacement of Archie, Ronnie Boodoosingh was (has been) the overwhelming preferred choice among the legal fraternity, including among judges (as well judges and magistrates as well as Ret’d judges and magistrates) and the parliament as well as former MPs and those familiar with his work. The public was more familiar with the names of Boodoosingh, Geoffrey Henderson, Prakash Moosai, Nolan Bereaux, Frank Seepersaud, Gillian Lucky, Maria Wilson, Carol Gobin, Mark Mohammed, and a few others among the dozens of judges. Boodoosingh is the overwhelming choice in the legal fraternity and among the public who are familiar with him and other judges. The public and lawyers had only positives about Boodoosingh. No one opposed him.
Since Acting President Mark’s decision to appoint Boodoosingh, the public and those who know the CJ unreservedly endorse the selection.
Boodoosingh is described as a brilliant scholar who wrote excellent judgments (with depth of reasonings) and who has been viewed as very hardworking. He is also considered as very apolitical (politically neutral) and brings jurisprudential competence to the office. There is full-throated endorsement for Boodoosingh by lawyers, judges, governing MPs and Senators and some independent Senators, some government MPs and Senators, and members of the bar as well as the public. It is felt that he will ensure that excellent decisions are made from the Court of Appeal and that the judicial system functions efficiently and fairly.
The public and legal fraternity feel that Boodoosingh is expected to be an outstanding CJ given that he has been an excellent jurist. With a mandatory retirement age of 70, he will enjoy a long tenure, and, therefore, an opportunity to influence the direction of the court as well as jurisprudence.
