Justices Of The Supreme Court

Justices of the Supreme Court include the Chief Justice and such number of other Justices as may be prescribed by Parliament. No office of Justice of the Supreme Court shall be abolished while there is a substantive holder thereof. Article 93(2) and (3). The Chief Justice is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.

Other Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. Article 94 Section 3 of the Supreme Court Act, provides that there shall be, in addition to the Chief Justice, not more than eleven and not less than two Justices of the Court and that the title of Senior Justice may be conferred upon not more than two Justices by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.

To qualify for appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court, a person must be a member of The Bahamas Bar or the Bar of a Commonwealth country, membership of which is a qualification for admission to practice as a counsel and attorney in The Bahamas, and must have practiced as a counsel and attorney for not less than ten (10) years.

Once appointed, the salaries and other terms of appointment of the Chief Justice, and Justices of the Supreme Court cannot be altered to their disadvantage. Justices of the Supreme Court can serve until the age of sixty-five (65) years and, where agreed, may serve until the age of sixty-seven (67).

Click here for current Justices of The Supreme Court.

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