Former Cayman Chief Justice Sir Anthony Smellie, KC, is to join the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for the UK overseas territories and some Commonwealth countries.
Smellie is only the second senior Caymanian judge to be honoured with a seat on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council after Sir Edward Zacca, also an ex-chief justice, was appointed in 1998.
Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, who succeeded Smellie, congratulated him on his appointment and said it was “fitting recognition” of his “long and distinguished career as a leading jurist in these islands”.
She added, “The esteem and honour which such a prestigious appointment embodies is a testament to the clear dedication of his intellect and commitment to jurisprudence in this jurisdiction as well as beyond these shores.”
Ramsay-Hale said that Smellie’s contribution to the law and justice spanned more than 50 years.
“These are decades which indelibly record his work as a Crown counsel, as Solicitor General, as a judge, as Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands for 25 years and as a justice of appeal in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda,” she added.
“And so, this new and distinguished appointment is a truly well-deserved recognition of Sir Anthony’s mastery of the law, his independence as a judge, his judicial leadership and his enormous contribution to the jurisprudence of the Cayman Islands.”
Ramsay-Hale said the Cayman judiciary recorded “with warmth and immeasurable pride our sincere best wishes for his continued success.”
Richard Barton, president of the the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association, offered “heartfelt congratulations” on the “momentous appointment” on behalf of the organisation.
“This prestigious recognition is one of personal triumph and a historic milestone,” he told the Compass. “It marks the extraordinary journey of a most brilliant jurist who has risen to the very summit of the final court of appeal for UK overseas territories, Crown dependencies and Commonwealth countries that have retained the appeal to His Majesty in Council, or in the case of republics, to the Judicial Committee.”
Barton said the accolade was a tribute to Smellie’s “unwavering commitment to the rule of law”, as well as his intellect and “legal mind of the highest calibre”.
“This appointment is a testament to his lifelong dedication to the pursuit of justice and the impact he has made on the legal profession at home and abroad,” he added.
“We take immense pride in celebrating this significant achievement and look forward to witnessing his continued contributions in shaping the legal landscape at the highest level.”
Governor Jane Owen congratulated Smellie as she officially announced his appointment, saying in a statement, “Sir Anthony served the Cayman Islands for over forty years, including nearly 25 years as our Chief Justice, and will bring his considerable judicial acumen and experience to this prestigious role. I extend my warmest wishes on this significant appointment and for his continued success.”
Lord Reed, president of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, also welcomed the appointment.
He said, “I extend my warmest congratulations on Sir Anthony Smellie’s appointment as a member of His Majesty’s Privy Council. I am delighted that I will be able to invite Sir Anthony to sit on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. As the recently retired Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands preceded by a long and distinguished legal career, he will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our work.”
Smellie has worked at prestigious London chambers 3 Verulam Buildings, in recent times.
He served for almost a quarter of a century as Cayman’s chief justice, stepping down from the bench in 2022.
He was given a knighthood in the June 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to law and justice by the late Queen Elizabeth II and was invested Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by King Charles III in October 2023.
Smellie was appointed to the Bermuda Court of Appeal in 2018.
He moved from his homeland of Jamaica to Cayman in 1983 and was principal Crown counsel and solicitor general from that year to 1992.
Smellie was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1991 and also served as acting attorney general in 1992.
He became a Grand Court judge in 1993 and was appointed chief justice in 1998.
Smellie was also a founding member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, representing Cayman, and serves as the Mutual Legal Assistance Authority under a Cayman/US treaty.
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