Special sitting of the court to pay tribute to deceased justice

horace young

Members of the judiciary and the legal community gathered in the chambers of Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh to pay tribute to one of their own, the late Horace Young, who passed away on April eighteenth. At the time of his death, Young had retired from private practice, but in earlier years, he served in numerous posts in the public service, including an appointment as Judge to the Supreme Court. With many accolades to his name, Young was widely known and respected. That was clear from remarks at this morning’s special sitting of the court, coming from the CJ, Attorney Ernest Staine, and Bar Association President Jackie Marshalleck.

Abdulai Conteh, Chief Justice

“Mister Justice Young had a good life, eighty-seven years long. I’m sure that he would agree, like the good cricketer I’m told he was, that he had a good inning. He was a devoted father and his family was the center of his life. To them especially, I take this opportunity to offer, if I may, sincere condolences on behalf of the bench and to his children and to surviving brothers and sisters as well; our deep, deep condolences.”

Ernest Staine, Attorney

“Horace could walk with princes, yet never lose his common touch nor forget his own. He always had a greeting for everyone; whether a colleague, someone from his track and field days or football days or anyone whose acquaintance he made through the years. Horace played football, the Methodist Youth Association, he excelled on track, he played tennis, and was an ardent fisherman. He held a record for a thirty-eight pound fish caught by him of course. He later found time to assist the football federation of which he was president for many years. Horace Young was a man of sports.”

Jackie Marshalleck, President Bar Association

“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts. If this is in fact so, then I will respectfully submit that Mr. Justice Young’s many performances were nothing short of brilliant. So Mr. Horace, as most of us knew him, has made his final exit from life’s stage. But we in the legal profession are grateful for his time with us and his wonderful contribution to the practice of law in Belize. We will individually and collectively treasure our memories of him always.”