On Monday in the Senate, Justice Herbert Lord's appointment as a permanent judge was confirmed and that has caused quite a flap in legal circles. The motion for permanent appointment came to the Senate just minutes before the meeting and it confirms his appointment from first January 2008 through to his retirement.
Well yesterday Opposition Leader Dean Barrow told us that he isn't one bit happy and he is not prepared to honor the appointment. He added that he may also challenge Lord's appointment. He says that neither he nor the Judicial and Legal Services Commission were consulted, as is required by the constitution and to him that makes the appointment unlawful.
As we understand it, the argument on behalf of the Attorney General's Ministry is that all relevant groups had been consulted as required when he was appointed in the first instance and because now this is only a confirmation, another round of consultations were not required.
For historical context it's of interest to note that in 1998. just days before the general election, Manuel Sosa was appointed Chief Justice by the Esquivel administration. The then PUP Opposition argued that they had only been informed not consulted, as is required. In one of the most controversial decisions ever taken in the Supreme Court, Sosa was ordered removed in a judgement from Justice George Meerabux.
