Bar Association disagrees with Justice Appointment

Samuel Awich

As we reported on Thursday night, the Bar Association, held a special meeting to take a vote on the proposed elevation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Awich to the Court of Appeal. The justice retires on May fifteenth and the government proposes his appointment forthwith for a period of two years. After lengthy discussion between the attorneys, the original resolution was amended. There was one abstention in the vote in which the Bar cites three reasons opposing the justice’s appointment.  The Bar resolved that “the Bar Association of Belize opposes the elevation of Mr. Justice Awich to the Court of Appeal and respectfully urges the Government of Belize to reconsider this proposed appointment.” We note that it is most unusual for the Bar to oppose judicial appointments.