STRESSING the importance of an independent Judiciary, President David Granger on Wednesday appointed another puisne judge–Fidela Corbin-Lincoln.

Corbin-Lincoln, daughter of former People’s National Congress (PNC) Leader, Robert Corbin and Chairman of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), Carol Corbin, is a former Master or Chamber Judge in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

She has over 20 years’ experience as a litigator, solicitor and a judicial officer.
The 41-year-old has had much success in handling large case management, litigation, pre-litigation, case analysis, and client advisory matters.
President Granger said his decision to appoint Corbin-Lincoln follows advice provided to him by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Article 128 of the Constitution says “The Judges, other than the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, shall be appointed by the President who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.”

Article 128 (2) states that if the office of any judge is vacant, any judge is unable to perform the functions of his or her office, is acting as Chancellor or Chief Justice or a Puisne Judge is acting as a Justice of Appeal or the Chancellor advises the President that the state of business of the Court of Appeal or High Court so requires, the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the JSC and appoint a person to act in the office of Justice of Appeal or Puisne Judge, as the case may require.

Corbin-Lincoln’s appointment is effective March 28, 2018. Meanwhile, President Granger in his address to a small gathering which included Chancellor of the Judiciary, members of the JSC, Registrar of the Supreme Court and Ministers of State and Legal Affairs, made it clear that “Supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law would be compromised without an independent, impartial and incorruptible Judiciary”.

He stressed that by mandate of the Constitution, all courts and all persons pesiding in the court shall exercise their functions independently.

“The independence of the judiciary is a principle which guards against the interference of the Executive and Legislative branches in the work of its Judiciary. It is necessary to protect citizens’ rights to ensure that legal issues are settled fairly. Independence of the Judiciary emphasises that the three branches of government–Executive, Legislative and judicial–respect each other’s constitutional roles and functions.”

MUST BE RESPECTED AND PROTECTED
That independence, the President said, must be “respected and protected by the government of the Republic.”

“It has no interest in interfering in the work of the Judiciary or in undermining the rule of law. Integrity of the Judiciary requires in part that judicial vacancies are filled expeditiously and on the basis of merit,” said President Granger.

The President said too that the appointment of an adequate complement of judges is necessary to ensure that justice is not delayed and is delivered in a timely manner. He made it clear that he acted dutifully in accordance with the Constitution in administering the oath of office to Corbin-Lincoln.

“Judicial officials are expected to exemplify the qualities of independence, impartiality and integrity.

“They must guarantee the independence of the institution which they serve by resisting any attempt at Executive and Legislative encroachment. They must guarantee the impartiality of their decision by guarding against bias, prejudice and against favouritism,” he stressed.
The head-of- state made it clear that members of the Judiciary must guarantee the integrity of their own reputations by acting in a manner which upholds the dignity of their office.

“This ceremony today aims at filling a vacancy in our judicial system [and] is a serious reaffirmation of the supremacy of our Constitution. It is a means of ensuring the independence of, impartiality and integrity of the Judiciary,” said President Granger.
Meanwhile, Corbin-Lincoln told reporters after taking the oath of office that she hopes to bring her years of experience to bear in Guyana. In 2014, she served as a Master or Chamber Judge in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. She has served in that position up until her appointment here as puisne judge.

ALWAYS WANTED TO RETURN HOME
When asked what prompted her to return to Guyana, the newly appointed Puisne Judge said, “I always wanted to eventually return home and the opportunity came and I thought it was a good time to come home and contribute to the jurisprudence. I was already doing that in the Eastern Caribbean but Guyana is home and the opportunity came and here I am.”

According to her curriculum vitae, Corbin-Lincoln also served as a magistrate (ag) in the Ministry of Legal Affairs of Antigua from January 2013 to March 2013. Prior to that appointment, she worked as an attorney at Simon Rogers Murdoch’s law firm in Antigua for approximately four years. There she specialised in commercial litigation including banking, insurance, company and employment litigation. She also advised clients, including banks and other financial institutions, companies and individual clients on a range of legal areas while reviewing and advising on commercial contracts and agreements.

Corbin-Lincoln, who has followed in her father’s footsteps, also worked as a manager at the London School of Economics, United Kingdom from 2008 to 2010; as a senior solicitor at the Refugee Advice Centre, United Kingdom in 2008 for about eight months and as a solicitor at Ziadies Solicitors, also in the United Kingdom from 2004 to 2007.

Prior to her departure from Guyana, she worked as an attorney with McKay and Moore Legal Practitioners and as an intern at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The new Puisne Judge holds a Masters of Law (LLM) in International Commercial Law from Kings College, University of London.