Ten new puisne Judges are set to be sworn in today at the Supreme Court of the Judicature in the presence of President Irfaan Ali.
The individuals, one of whom is the outgoing Chief Magistrate (ag.) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, were selected from a pool of 37 applicants who responded to an advertisement posted by the Court.
The judges to be sworn in are Nicola Pierre, Joy Persaud-Singh, Hessaun Yasin, Isaacs-Marcus, Deborah Kumar-Chetty, Nigel Niles, Peter Hugh, Priscilla Chandra-Hanif, Jacqueline Josiah-Graham, and Zamilla Ally-Seepaul.
Pierre was appointed Commissioner of Title and has presided in the Land Court from 2014 to 2024. Pierre was called to the Bar in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in 1998 and has practiced law for over two decades. She has also served as Secretary of the Guyana Bar Association and Chairman of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority.
Persaud-Singh has most recently served as Deputy Commissioner Inland Revenue and Legal Officer at the Guyana Revenue Authority from August 2012 to June 2024. She was admitted to the Guyana Bar in 1998 and the Canadian (Ontario) Bar in 2009. Persaud-Singh has also practiced law in Canada and served as State Counsel in the Attorney General Chambers upon her graduation from the Hugh Wooding Law School.
Yasin has a strong background in taxation law. She graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1996 and obtained her Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School. Yasin began her legal career as State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers and later joined the Guyana Revenue Authority as its first lawyer, creating the legal division of that entity.
Isaacs-Marcus has a wealth of experience as a Magistrate. She holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Guyana and a Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School. Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus began her legal career as an Associate Attorney at Dalton’s Law Firm in Trinidad and Tobago before returning to Guyana to serve as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Kumar-Chetty has practised law for over two decades. She graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1999 and obtained her Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School. Kumar-Chetty has appeared extensively in both the High Court and Magistrate’s Courts and held the position of Deputy Solicitor General in the Chambers of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs.
Niles is an Attorney-at-Law who holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of the West Indies, a Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School, and a Masters in Corporate & Commercial Law from the University of London. Niles has experience in civil, commercial, and criminal law and has worked as Executive Director of Corporate Services & Company Secretary at Guyana Water Inc.
Hugh completed his secondary education at Queen’s College before pursuing a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Guyana. He obtained his Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School and practiced law at several chambers before establishing his own practice.
Chandra-Hanif received her secondary education at Queen’s College and then read for a Bachelor of Laws degree (L.L.B.) at the University of Guyana. She graduated with L.L.B. (Dist.) in 2004 and obtained her Legal Education Certificate (Principal’s Honour Roll) from Hugh Wooding Law School. Chandra-Hanif has served as an Attorney-at-Law at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security with additional portfolio in the Childcare and Protection Agency.
Josiah-Graham graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor of Law Degree (Dist.) and a Certificate in Legal Education from Hugh Wooding Law School. She worked as a Legal Officer for Guyana Revenue Authority, Legal Assistant to Chancellor of Judiciary, Registrar and Chief Marshal at Caribbean Court of Justice prior to serving as a judicial officer.
Magistrate Ally-Seepaul earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Guyana in 2006 and obtained her Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School. She began her legal career as State Counsel at Chambers of Director Public Prosecutions before being appointed Magistrate.
Before being selected, all ten new judges underwent an interview process. The swearing-in ceremony takes place today at 3:00pm.
