Retired Chief Justice Sir Anthony Smellie, KC, has been appointed as one of two new judges in the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, Governor Jane Owen has announced.
The other new appointee is Clare Montgomery, KC, who currently serves as a judge of appeal in Guernsey and Jersey.
Smellie served as a Grand Court judge in Cayman for nearly 30 years, including almost 25 years as chief justice, before retiring in 2022. He was succeeded by Margaret Ramsay-Hale who became Cayman’s first female chief justice.
Smellie was included in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2022 and subsequently knighted by King Charles III in October last year.
The new Court of Appeal appointments were announced in a statement issued by the Governor’s Office on Thursday, 4 Jan.
“It is my great privilege to appoint Sir Anthony and Ms. Montgomery as Justices of Appeal,” Governor Jane Owen said. “These individuals bring a wealth of skills, experience and knowledge that will enhance the already exceptional calibre of the Court of Appeal. I look forward to Sir Anthony’s return to the Cayman Islands judiciary and to welcoming Ms. Montgomery to the islands in due course.”
The appointments were made following a recruitment process held between 15 Sept. and 22 Oct. last year by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
“Following a short-listing process, an interview panel interviewed four persons for the post; ultimately resulting in the JLSC recommending the Honourable Sir Anthony Smellie and Ms. Clare Montgomery KC as the successful candidates. Her Excellency accepted the recommendations to appoint both Sir Anthony and Ms. Montgomery as Justices of the Court of Appeal,” states the release.
Montgomery is a practising King’s Counsel at British law firm Matrix Chambers with experience in commercial, crime and public law. She was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1980 and in Northern Ireland in 2001. She has also been admitted to courts in Antigua, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brunei, Hong Kong, Mauritius, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In addition, she is a deputy High Court judge in England and Wales. She was appointed Queen’s (now King’s) Counsel in 1996.
Montgomery is the only female judge currently serving on Cayman’s Court of Appeal.
Cayman’s panel of appeals judges now comprises:
- Sir John Goldring, president;
- John Martin, KC
- Sir Richard Field
- C. Dennis Morrison
- Sir Michael Birt
- Sir Jack Beatson
- Sir Anthony Smellie, KC
- Clare Montgomery, KC
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