On instructions from the Secretary of State, His Excellency the
Governor has formally appointed Mr QC as the Honourable the
Chief Justice of the Falkland Islands.
Mr Lewis was officially sworn in by the Governor at a ceremony
held at Government House on Thursday 4 January.
Governor of the Falkland Islands, Nigel Phillips CBE commented:
“I am delighted to be able to welcome James as the new Chief
Justice for the Falkland Islands.
“James and his wife have a longstanding interest and connection
with the Islands, a huge breadth of experience in the judiciary
and working with other Overseas Territories. I know James will
receive a warm welcome from the community.”
A specialist in both civil and criminal cases, Mr Lewis was
called to the bar in 1987 after serving for a number of years
with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. He was appointed a Queen’s
Counsel in 2002.
Mr Lewis commented:
“I am very much looking forward to taking up the appointment of
Chief Justice and getting to know the Falkland Islands.
“My interest in the Falkland Islands was first sparked whilst on
standby for the Falklands war as a young second lieutenant in
1982. Subsequently my wife visited the Falkland Islands in 1983
as a journalist and guest of the 1st Battalion The Coldstream
Guards. Indeed, at home we display a framed copy of the front
page of the Penguin News published on the day victory was
declared (presented to my wife by the then editor of the paper).
“My interest in the region has been further inspired by my recent
expedition to the Antarctic this year when I visited both Scott’s
and Shackleton’s huts, islands in the Ross sea, and the New
Zealand subantarctic islands.”
Mr Lewis and his wife, have another connection to the Islands:
“My wife’s former secondary school teacher, who became a family
friend, was the late Geoff Moir DFC, who taught at Fox Bay West
and was very involved with the Falkland Islands Association.”
Mr Lewis takes over from Simon Bryan QC, the previous Chief
Justice who has recently been appointed as a High Court Judge.
Governor Phillips said:
“On behalf of the whole community I would like to thank Simon for
his support over the last few years and wish him and his family
well for the future.”
