Chief Justice

The Government has considered the Privy Council's Ruling and repeats its satisfaction at all aspects of the outcome. The Government will not however make any fuller statement until the Judicial Service Commission has given its final consideration to the matter, as is its Constitutional function.

Under the new Constitution decisions relating to the judiciary are effectively taken by the Judicial Service Commission. The Judicial Service Commission is established by the new Constitution and the subsequent Judicial Service Act.

Under the Constitution the Governor is obliged to act in the way that he is advised to do by the Judicial Service Commission. Accordingly, the Judicial Service Commission which is independent of both the Government and the Convent must now decide whether and if so how Chief Justice Schofield's appointment should be terminated.

A Spokesman for No 6 Convent Place said:-

"Government does not wish to comment more fully and widely until the Judicial Service Commission has finished dealing with this matter. However, even though the process to date has been expensive it has been demonstrated that regardless of the outcome, the new Constitutional provisions relating to the judiciary have worked well."

JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION ADVICE
Further to the advice issued on Thursday 12 November by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on the matter of the Chief Justice, HE The Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, received advice from the Judicial Service Commission.

PRIVY COUNCIL JUDGEMENT
HE The Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, has today received the advice of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on the matter of the Chief Justice. The Governor is giving careful consideration to the advice.

REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF CHIEF JUSTICE
Acting on the advice received from the Judicial Service Commission, HE The Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, has today carried out the removal by means of dismissal of Mr Justice Schofield from the office of Chief Justice.

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