Justice Elliot Mottley retires as President of the Court of Appeal?

elliot mottley

On Wednesday night we reported on the continuing, unsettling state of affairs within the Belize Judiciary brought on by the intention of the Prime Minister to temporarily promote Supreme Court Justice Legall to the Court of Appeal. Hard on the heels of that story, comes news of the retirement of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Elliot Mottley. A Government Release announced President Mottley’s retirement this afternoon. While the press release makes the retirement appear routine, Bar Association members we contacted are adamant that Justice’s Mottley’s retirement is anything but routine. They say that PM Barrow’s constitutional amendment interfered with Justice Mottley’s security of tenure by providing for the termination of his instrument of appointment in April of next year.  This amendment is being challenged in a constitutional claim before the Supreme Court. There is no substantive Chief Justice and now, following Justice Mottley’s retirement, there is rampant speculation as to who the Prime Minister will appoint as President of the Court of Appeal.  Will it be a family affair? That’s anyone’s guess.