Guyanese Jurist on path to become next Chief Justice of Belize

Respected and celebrated Guyanese jurist, Justice Louise Blenman has been nominated by the Prime Minister of Belize to become the country’s new Chief Justice.

Last week, Belizian Prime Minister John Antonio Briceño initiated the consultation process with the Opposition Leader of Belize on the appointment of a new Chief Justice, recommending Justice Blenman for the post.

Once confirmed, Justice Blenman will become the first substantive female Chief Justice of Belize.

Her nomination by the Belizian Prime Minister followed the recommendation of a panel that interviewed the eight applicants for the position. Justice Blenman emerged from the interviews as the best suited for the job and the recommendation was made to the country’s Prime Minister.

The interviewing panel was made up of senior members of the Bar and the Bar Association of Belize.

“In that report and based on her qualifications, experience, and her interview, the Hon. Justice Louise Blenman, a Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, was recommended favorably to the Prime Minister”, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office noted.

Justice Louise Esther Blenman graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1986 with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) with Upper Second Class Honours. She later obtained the Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad in 1988 and was called to the Bar in Guyana, the same year.

She also obtained a Master of Law Degree (LL.M.) with merit from the University of London and has served in a variety of senior legal and judicial positions in the region in St. Lucian, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and Anguilla.

Justice Blenman currently sits as a Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Court which serves nine states and territories.

She served as a High Court judge for 9 years and a Justice of Appeal for 10 years in the region.

“For in excess of six years, she served as the Chairperson of the Judicial Education Institute of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and is a fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute. She also served as the Chairman of the Sentencing Guidelines Committee. She also has a wealth of experience in mediation. She is known for her dedication to the rule of law and public service, and most importantly, for her timely delivery of judgments that have been cited in the courts in Belize”, the Belizian Prime Minister’s Office noted.

It was also highlighted that Justice Blenman is renowned for her prolific judgment writing, many of which have been affirmed by the Privy Council.

Once the consultation process between the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader is completed, the Prime Minister will have to advise the Governor-General of Belize on the appointment.