JSC advertises for two Supreme Court judges

The Judicial Service Commission [JSC] has advertised to recruit two Puisne Judges for the Supreme Court of Gibraltar.

One of the posts is permanent until the statutory retirement age of 67, with the successful applicant succeeding Puisne Judge Christopher Butler, who is poised to vacate the post this summer having reached retirement age and extended his term by three years.

The second post is for a fixed three-year term and will boost the complement of judges in the Supreme Court to four, including Chief Justice Anthony Dudley and Puisne Judge Karen Ramagge- Prescott.

The decision to recruit a fourth judge comes against the backdrop of increased workload for the Supreme Court, which handles both criminal and complex commercial matters, as well as civil and family cases.

The court has not had a complement of four judges for nearly two years, since the departure of Adrian Jack.

Mr Jack left Gibraltar after his fixed three-year contract came to an end and was not renewed by the JSC, a decision that attracted some controversy at the time.

Since then, Mr Justice Dudley has on two occasions publicly signalled the court’s rising workload and explained that complex cases can dramatically increase the demands on judges.

The two positions have been advertised in Gibraltar and the UK, including detailed particulars about the post and the characteristics that the JSC is seeking in candidates, who must have substantial legal experience.

Both posts are pensionable and attract an annual salary of £134,821.

The JSC expects to hold interviews for the two posts at the beginning of July, with the successful candidate for the permanent post expected to start in August and the second candidate in September or as soon as possible after that.