On Monday, June 13th, Mr. Douglas Mendes, a Senior Counsel practicing in Trinidad and Tobago, was sworn in as a Justice of the Belize Court of Appeal by the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, at Belize House, Belmopan.Witnessing the swearing-in ceremony was the Registrar General, Ms.Velda Flowers.
Justice Mendes has a distinguished legal career which commenced in 1985 after he graduated from Sir Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad. He has practiced widely in the Caribbean and has appeared before the Privy Council, the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. He also acted as a Supreme Court Judge in Trinidad and Tobago for a short period in 1998. Justice Mendes is a part-time lecturer in law at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad, and has published notable articles in law journals. He is a well-known legal luminary in the Caribbean.
Also sworn in during Monday’s ceremony was Justice Boyd Carey who was re-appointed as a temporary Justice of Appeal for the current June session of the Court of Appeal. Other Justices of the Court of Appeal are Justice Manuel Sosa (President), Justice Dennis Morrison and Justice Brian Alleyne.
There are about 18 cases on the Court’s Calendar and the Sitting is expected to last until June 24th.
