Justice Ministry congratulates Chief Justice Zaila McCalla

The Ministry of Justice wishes to congratulate the Hon. Mrs. Justice Zaila McCalla OJ, Chief Justice of Jamaica, who on Tuesday February 9, 2016 was conferred with the prestigious honour of being appointed an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple Inn in London, England, in recognition of her contribution to the law in Jamaica.

The Middle Temple has a long and distinguished history as one of four Inns of Court which have the exclusive rights over admission to the Bar in England and Wales.

Chief Justice McCalla joins an elite group of members of the Middle Temple, which includes such luminaries as Eric Holder, former Attorney General of the United States of America, the Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Zacca, former Chief Justice of Jamaica, and the Rt. Hon. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Chief Justice McCalla’s stellar legal career commenced in 1976 with her admission to the Jamaican Bar, followed by service as a Clerk of Court, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Senior Resident Magistrate, Puisne Judge and Judge of Court of Appeal, before being appointed Jamaica’s first female Chief Justice in June 2007.

The Ministry of Justice also wishes to offer congratulations to the Hon. Patrick Robinson, Judge of the International Court of Justice and former Deputy Attorney General of Jamaica, who was also appointed a Bencher of the Middle Temple on February 9, 2016.  Justice Robinson is one of Jamaica’s most illustrious lawyers, whose eminence in international legal circles continues to make Jamaica proud.