{"id":465,"date":"2024-07-06T16:14:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T16:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/tribute-to-the-late-chief-justice-stephen-isaacs\/"},"modified":"2024-07-07T16:06:59","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T16:06:59","slug":"tribute-to-the-late-chief-justice-stephen-isaacs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/tribute-to-the-late-chief-justice-stephen-isaacs\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribute to the late Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-76fcdba7f378bcd724711bb4229931c1\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-76fcdba7f378bcd724711bb4229931c1{\nbackground-color:#3d3d3d;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/page-resource-bg.jpg);\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-position:50% 0%;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-76fcdba7f378bcd724711bb4229931c1 main_color avia-section-no-padding avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll av-minimum-height av-minimum-height-60 av-height-percent  container_wrap fullsize'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch' data-av_minimum_height_pc='60' data-av_min_height_opt='percent'><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-465'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div class='flex_column_table av-av_three_fifth-b1ac823ad80d104edd5272d6a6b85521 sc-av_three_fifth av-equal-height-column-flextable'><div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fifth-b1ac823ad80d104edd5272d6a6b85521 av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee{\npadding-bottom:10px;\ncolor:#ffffff;\nfont-size:42px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:42px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-lybqwsed-91eb83dfee62212649dd4e3c54837fee av-special-heading-h1 custom-color-heading blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-2  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  av-inherit-size'><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Tribute to the late Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='av-flex-placeholder'><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-av_two_fifth-ae2cd6b1f49e83f5dbcce51aa112b1d0 av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. Autoclose: 1 --><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-av_section-7af9a1a620ce4f39c9b9e05e20762bd9 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-465'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div class='flex_column_table av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 sc-av_four_fifth av-equal-height-column-flextable'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2\">\n.flex_column.av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 av_four_fifth  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><p><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-3a876428eececa9d35452247ddb053af\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-3a876428eececa9d35452247ddb053af{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-3a876428eececa9d35452247ddb053af hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_codeblock  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. Autoclose: 1 --><div class='flex_column_table av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 sc-av_three_fourth av-equal-height-column-flextable'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_four_fifth  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-lybqxbe8-37ef6ec7bbba09eb8b6d71782cca4200 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1 style=\"text-align: left;\">Tribute to the late Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs from Brian M. Moree, K.C.<\/h1>\n<p>I was honoured to be asked to provide a short tribute to the late Chief Justice the Honourable Stephen Isaacs. I knew him for over 25 years and was deeply saddened by his untimely death. It is one of life\u2019s cruel ironies that only a short time ago we were together at Government House celebrating his elevation to the substantive office of Chief Justice. Now, a mere two weeks or so later we are mourning his passing. It seems unfair but, to the faithful, we are left to remember the profundity of the opening eight verses of chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes and accept the providence of a sovereign God.<\/p>\n<p>To those who are anchored in the past, judges are seen as stern, intimidating, aloof, formal, detached and pedantic authoritarians dispensing justice from a privileged and elevated perch quite unconnected to the real life experiences of the people who they are constitutionally and morally committed to serve through the court system. Such persons would not have recognized the late Chief Justice The Honourable Stephen Isaacs, for he was not that kind of a judge; indeed he was the antithesis of every component of that outdated and<br \/>\nuninformed caricature.<\/p>\n<p>Those of us who knew him will remember Chief Justice Isaacs as a thoroughly decent, humane, engaging, courteous, thoughtful and genuine man who served his country and his people for over 24 years as a competent, influential and accomplished jurist.\u00a0He started his judicial career in 1994 as an Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court and worked his way through the judiciary to become the highest\u00a0judicial officer in our Commonwealth \u2013 The Chief Justice and head of the Judicature, the third branch of Government under the Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>Stephen\u2019s professional journey from a young lawyer at the Bar in private practice to his move to the public service as an Assistant Registrar and his subsequent ascendency through the ranks of the judiciary to become a Justice of the Supreme Court, then a Senior Justice and ultimately the Chief Justice is the quintessential success story for the lawyer. His life and career will serve as an inspiration to Bahamians throughout our country as a real life example of how, notwithstanding the challenges and vicissitudes of life, we can all achieve our aspirations and positively impact those around us and the<br \/>\ndevelopment of our nation.<\/p>\n<p>Over 2,400 years ago Socrates gave his well known iconic description of the essential qualities of a good judge. He stated: \u201cFour things belong to a judge: To hear courteously; to answer wisely; to consider soberly; and to decide impartially.\u201d Chief Justice Isaacs demonstrated these qualities in the discharge of his judicial duties. In presiding at court hearings his demeanour was placid, his tone was cordial, his dealings with both counsel and litigant were respectful, his management of his court room was efficient and his control of the proceedings was firm, disciplined and temperate. Above all, he was fair in the sense of being open minded, impartial and independent.<\/p>\n<p>Judicial temperament has been described as reflecting \u201c&#8230;.patience, open-mindedness, courtesy, tact, courage, punctuality, firmness, understanding, compassion, humility and common sense.\u201d The late Chief Justice Isaacs possessed all these traits as he went about carrying out the functions of his judicial office. At the funeral of Lord Cooke of Thorndon, one of the greatest New Zealand judges, it was said that \u201che was never flashy, never one to blow his own trumpet. He believed he was part of a great movement&#8230;&#8230;..He believed in practical justice that delivered fair and reasonable outcomes.\u201d I cannot do better than to borrow those words to describe the late Stephen Isaacs.<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice Isaacs had a commendable grasp of legal principles across a wide cross section of the law. He was grounded by an innate sense of fairness and justice which served him well as a judge. His well-developed understanding of the milieu in which he lived combined with his experience and working knowledge of the law were reflected in very sound judicial decisions.<\/p>\n<p>He adjusted seamlessly to the era of judge driven case management and because of his experience he adroitly managed a large volume of cases through the interlocutory stages to trial or earlier resolution. His record clearly demonstrates that when adjudicating cases he had no judicial timidity and applied the law as he saw it.<\/p>\n<p>I remember on one occasion when I discussed with Justice Isaacs, as he then was, the provocative tease from Lord Denning when he was delivering an after dinner speech in the presence of one of his fellow judges. Lord Denning said \u2013 &#8220;Unlike my brother judge here, who is concerned with law, I am concerned with justice.&#8221; Stephen identified with the point behind Lord Denning\u2019s quip which reflected his innate sense of justice and the need to ensure that the law accomplished its ultimate goal of \u2018doing right\u2019 between the parties before the court. We have lost, all too soon, a notable, competent, experienced and respected Bahamian jurist who enhanced the public trust and confidence in our legal system. It has been stated that the Judge is the pillar of our entire judicial system. In that regard, Chief Justice Isaacs was a strong, reliable and steadfast pillar who significantly contributed to the preservation of the administration of justice in The Bahamas and the development of our jurisprudence. Our system is better off for his public service and we who knew Stephen Isaacs can learn from his quiet dignity, his temperate disposition, his passionate commitment to justice, his unfailing fairness, his humanity and his humility in wearing the privilege and power of high judicial office without ever succumbing to pomposity or arrogance.<\/p>\n<p>May he rest in peace.<\/p>\n<p>3 September, 2018.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-lybqxjgc-351887698f151025b631bef20977e913-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last '><a href='https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stephen-Isaacs-TRIBUTE-TO-THE-LATE-CHIEF-JUSTICE-STEPHEN-ISAACS-3-September-2018-FINAL.2.pdf'  class='avia-button av-lybqxjgc-351887698f151025b631bef20977e913 av-link-btn avia-icon_select-yes-right-icon avia-size-large avia-position-left av-icon-on-hover avia-color-theme-color'  target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >DOWNLOAD PDF<\/span><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_right' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue879' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div><div class='av-flex-placeholder'><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-b9b2a0bc9aa2512cefc5e0e7e7441cc9\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-b9b2a0bc9aa2512cefc5e0e7e7441cc9{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-b9b2a0bc9aa2512cefc5e0e7e7441cc9 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. 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