Grand Court Judge

Core Function 

The holder of this post presides as a judge of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands to try admiralty, civil, criminal and family cases before the Grand Court according to the law and in compliance with the Constitutional Oaths of Judicial office. The judge is responsible for the proper and efficient administration of justice in his/her court. 

Principal Responsibilities

The post-holder will preside as a judge of the Grand Court in the Admiralty, Civil, Criminal and Family Divisions of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, according to operational need, and will perform the functions and exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon a judge of the Grand Court by the Constitution, the Grand Court Act and other relevant legislation, and the common law. The judge must ensure that an appropriate record is maintained and, where required, made available to the Court of Appeal.

Cases before the Civil Division of the Grand Court range from probate and administration, guardianship applications, personal injury and contract disputes to appeals from the summary court and other tribunals and judicial review of administrative decisions. They require the ability to conduct interlocutory and case management disputes as well as final determinations of disputes following trial.

When trying cases in the Criminal Division, a judge may be required to sit with or without a jury, as permitted by law. In all cases, the reasons for any legal decisions made by the judge and for the sentence must be given by the judge. In the Family Division, a judge will adjudicate upon the dissolution of marriage and ancillary matters, financial arrangements for the support of the parties and any children and arrangements relating to the custody, welfare and access to children, including public law and Hague Convention matters.

If required to sit in the Financial Services Division, the judge will case-manage and try complex high-value civil disputes that arise out of the business of the financial services sector in the Cayman Islands, often with an international dimension. 

Other responsibilities include:

• Determining constitutional petitions under the Bill of Rights;
• Determining applications pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act to restrain or forfeit the property of suspects or convicted persons or to inspect records;
• Determining applications for judicial assistance on behalf of foreign courts through the letters rogatory procedure to obtain evidence for use in foreign proceedings, which may be subject to the Confidential Information (Disclosure) Act or similar regulatory law;
• Sitting as the chair or a member of statutory boards and tribunals which require a Grand Court judge;
• Participating in the training of staff, teaching (e.g.: the Justices of the Peace), lecturing or speaking at conferences; and
• Undertaking such other duties and responsibilities as may be required by the Hon. Chief Justice. 

The judge must be impartial and independent of all outside influences and must conduct themselves at all times in a way that is consistent with the dignity of high judicial office, the Judicial Code of Conduct and in accordance with the Bangalore principles. 

The judge must demonstrate procedural fairness in all cases conducted in their court and deal tactfully and courteously with all participants in such cases as well as with the public. Propriety and the appearance of propriety are essential to the performance of all of the activities of a judge.