Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
JUSTICE FORTE
A FAREWELL function will be held in the Court of Appeal this morning for president of the Court of Appeal, the Hon. Ian Forte, who is retiring after 40 years in the government service.
He is being succeeded by Mr. Justice Paul Harrison.
Mr. Justice Forte is the fourth judge to retire from the Court of Appeal Bench over a 14-month period.
Mr. Justice Henderson Downer retired in August last year after 32 years in government service. He worked as a prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions until he was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 1981. He was appointed a Court of Appeal judge in 1988.
In October last year, Mr. Justice Donald Bingham retired after 35 years in government service. He was a Court of Appeal judge for 13 years.
Mr. Justice Clarence Walker went on early retirement in June this year, after 39 years of service. He was appointed a puisne judge in April 1982 and a Court of Appeal judge in May 1999.
Mr. Justice Forte had his final sitting on the bench on October 26.
GLOWING TRIBUTES
Hilary Phillips, Q.C., and attorney-at-law Gordon Steer, who appeared before Forte in the last case he was presiding over, paid glowing tributes to him and lauded him as an eminent jurist.
Mr. Justice Seymour Panton and Mrs. Justice Zaila McCalla (acting), who sat with him on the case, described him as a "gentleman" in every sense of the word. They said he handled power well and was a very learned gentleman.
In wishing him a happy retirement, Mr. Justice Panton said there were reports that the age of retirement for judges was going to be increased from 70 to 75. Mr. Justice Panton said that he did not know of any judge who wanted to work beyond 70.
Mr. Justice Forte, in thanking them for the kind remarks, said there was the need for more judges in the Court of Appeal. He said that every judge who came from the Supreme Court always said they did not know that judges in the Court of Appeal worked so hard. "It hurts that those in authority do not appreciate the work that we do," the outgoing president said.
