Justice Marva McDonald Bishop assumes role as Court of Appeal president

 

Justice Marva McDonald Bishop is the new president of the Court of Appeal, becoming the first woman to lead the nation's second-highest court.

 

Justice McDonald Bishop took the oath of office at King's House in St. Andrew on Thursday morning.

 

She succeeds retired president Justice Patrick Brooks.

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness in his remarks said Justice McDonald Bishop's historic ascension is a testament to her exceptional legal acumen, while Opposition Leader Mark Golding said her reputation for erudition justifies the appropriateness of the appointment.

 

In a dig at the political leaders, in light of their disagreements, Justice McDonald Bishop sought to assure them that they would not regret their decision to recommend her for the position. 

 

"The same applies to the Leader of the Opposition, who I don't know if he knows me, because I don't know people, you know, only my St. Mary people I know, and my colleagues. But he did not object, that's why I'm here today. He, too, followed blind faith, I think. And he's willing, as the Prime Minister is,

to take a chance on me. So you see, they can cooperate," she said, as her comment was met with laughter and applause from the audience. 

 

Justice McDonald Bishop pledged to do her part in creating a model judiciary. 

 

"So what I've done, on the instruction of the Chief Justice, is to go to AI, artificial intelligence, because he wants to introduce it in the judiciary. I'm testing it out, and I put in what makes a good judicial leader. And I got many features of who is a good judicial leader. All I can say today, I'm going to adopt them all and utilise them and see where it leads me. I asked it, what is a model justice system? And it gave me a host of things that I'm going to go to the executive with, to make sure we have a model to the judicial system," said the newly appointed president.