The chief justice of Trinidad and Tobago is the highest judge of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and presides over the Supreme Court of Judicature of Trinidad and Tobago. The chief justice is appointed by a common decision of the President, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.
History
Tobago was claimed for England already by King James I in 1608, however in the following time saw varying rulers.Hart (1866), p. 238 In 1794, a planter was elected the first chief justice.Laurence (1995), p. 55 The island was eventually ceded to the United Kingdom in 1814 at the Treaty of ParisWoodcock (1867), p. 75 and from 1833 it was assigned to the colony of the British Windward Islands.Woodcock (1867), p. 82
In 1797, Trinidad, who had been previously controlled by the Spanish Crown, was captured by a fleet commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby and thus came under the rule of the British government.Millett (1985), p. 46 The post of a chief justice was established in March of the same year.Millett (1985), p. 47 Both islands, Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a single colony in 1888, which gained its independence in 1962.Nolan (2002), p. 1694
Chief justices of Tobago
1794–1799: John Balfour (non-lawyer) 1799–1804: Robert Paterson (non-lawyer) 1805–1828 ?: Elphinstone Pigott 1828–1832 No appointment 1832–1833: Richard Newton BennettO'Connell (1972), p. 21 1833–? G. Buchanan - substitute for Robert Sympson Jameson 1840–1841: Robert Nicholas Fynn 1841–1861: Edward Dyer Sanderson 1862–1867: Henry Iles Woodcock 1868–1880: Joseph King Wattley, Jnr 1880–1882: James Sherrard ArmstrongRose (1888), p. 325 1882–1888: John Worrell Carrington
Chief judges of Trinidad
1797–1808: John Nihell 1808–1811: George SmithMillett (1985), p. 230 1814–1818: John Thomas BiggeJoseph (1970), p. 113 1818–1830: Ashton WarnerHart (1866), p. 198
Chief justices of Trinidad
1669–?: Juan Fermin de Huidobro 1832–1849: George Scotland 1849–1869: William George Knox 1870–1885: Joseph Needham 1886–1888: Sir John GorrieBrereton (1997), p. 231
Chief justices of Trinidad and Tobago
1888–1892: Sir John GorrieBrereton (1997), p. 259 1892–1899: John Tankerville Goldney 1900–1903: Sir William John Anderson 1903–1907: Ernest Augustus Northcote 1908–1924: Alfred van Waterschoodt Lucie-Smith 1924–1926: Sir Stanley Fisher (afterwards Chief Justice of Ceylon, 1926) 1927–1930: Sir Philip James Macdonell (afterwards Chief Justice of Ceylon, 1930) 1930–1937: Charles Frederic Belcher 1937–1943: Charles Cyril Gerahty 1943–1946: Henry William Butler Blackall 1946–1952: Cecil Furness-Smith 1952–1958: Joseph Leon Mathieu Perez 1958–1960: Stanley Eugene Gomes (afterwards Chief Justice of the West Indies Federation, 1961) 1961–1962: Arthur Hugh McShine (acting)Comma (1973), p. 193 1962 - Trinidad and Tobago became independent as a Dominion / Commonwealth realm 1962–1968: Sir Hugh Olliviere Beresford WoodingComma (1973), p. 280 1969–1970: Arthur Hugh McShine 1970–1971: Clement Phillips (acting) 1972–1983: Sir Isaac HyataliComma (1973), p. 33 1976 - Trinidad and Tobago is declared as the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 1983–1985: Cecil KelsickYawching (1991), p. 189 1985–1995: Clinton BernardYawching (1991), p. 83 1995–2002: Michael de la BastideWest (2001), p. 732 2002–2008: Satnarine Sharma 2008–2025: Ivor Archie 2025-present: Ronnie Boodoosingh
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