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APPEAL JUDGE TO BE NEW ATTORNEY-GENERAL

April 23, 1970

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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.

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Expected to arrive in Grand Cayman early in May to take up the appointment of Attorney-General of the Cayman Islands, is Mr. Justice Gerald E. Waddington of the Appeal Court in Jamaica. From his distinguished record, it is apparent that Mr. Justice Waddington comes to his new post with a wealth of experience and expertise so essential to a rapidly developing territory. Educated at Jamaica College and Wolmer's High School, Mr. Waddington was admitted to practice as a Solicitor in 1932. After a period in private practice he entered the Government Service in 1939 serving as a Deputy Clerk of Courts 1939-40, Clerk of Courts 1940-41, Acting Registrar of Titles 1941-3, Acting Crown Solicitor 1942-4. Asst. Crown Solicitor 1943-8 and

Resident Magistrate in the Parishes of Clarendon, St. Andrew, St. James and Manchester from 1948-58. In July 1955, Mr. Waddington left Jamaica to read for the Bar in the U.K. He was called to the Bar at Inns of Court in London in July 1957 and returned to Jamaica as Contd. on P. 3. Col. 1. New AG Contd. from P.1. Resident Magistrate until December 1958 when he was appointed to act as Puisne Judge. His official appointment as Puisne Judge came in June 1959 and in May 1964 he became a Judge of the Court of Appeal. In 1965, Mr. Justice Waddington was guest speaker at a Land Surveyors Luncheon taking as his topic, Some legal aspects of surveying, with particular reference to the Registration of Titles Law", and in 1967 he represented Jamaica at the first World Assembly of Judges held in Geneva, Switzerland.

He visited Cayman in June 1967 with Sir Herbert Duffus, Chief Justice of Jamaica, and Mr. Justice Eccleston when the Court of Appeal convened here for the first time in history. Apart from his legal career, Mr. Justice Waddington has two very special interests, the first is rifle shooting. He has been a member of the Jamaica Rifle Association since its inception, Captained Jamaica's team at Bisley many times and was elected a Vice-President of the National Rifle Association in Britain in July 1968. From his record he appears to be a "crack shot", well known at Bisley for many years. His other interest is the work of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and many are the reports of his contribution to this work. He was elected Chairman of the Council of the Order of St. John in Jamaica in 1968, a position which he still holds. Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court met enbanc in the No. 1 Home Circuit Court on Friday last to say goodbye to Mr. Justice Waddington. When he takes up residence in Cayman, our new A.G. will be accompanied by his wife who is a most gracious personality who has been closely associated with Farquharson House - a home for gentlefolk - serving on its management committee. For a few weeks they will have the pleasure of the company of their daughter, her husband and 5 month old son, who will be going on to reside in Ithaca, New York.

Mr. Coote, a graduate student of Cornell University has been working for the Jamaican Government at the Agricultural Engineering Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Mrs. Coote as a Vet, for the past 5 years.