After serving as a jurist for over 40 years in various capacities, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Jon Isaacs demitted office on January 20, 2025 during a Court of Appeal Special Sitting, held at the British Colonial. Justice Milton Evans has been appointed the new President.
In attendance were Prime Minister and MInister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Ryan Pinder; Chief Justice Sir Ian Winder; President of the Bahamas Bar Association Kahlil Parker; justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, magistrates, lawyers and other senior officials in the judiciary and legal sector.
Senator the Hon. Ryan Pinder said that Justice Isaacs’s contributions to the legal profession are worthy of praise.
“The career of Justice Isaacs is certainly worthy of celebration and encapsulates a commitment to service and contribution to The Bahamas. His role as an advocate was spent entirely at the Office of the Attorney General.
“He was called to The Bahamas Bar on 6 October 1984 and immediately joined the Chambers of the Attorney General. His public service included serving as Prosecutor, Advisor and Civil Litigation Attorney at the Office of the Attorney General for thirteen years. He rose to the post of Assistant Director of Legal Affairs until his appointment as Chief Magistrate in January 1997,” said Mr. Pinder.
Mr. Pinder noted that after serving 13 years at the Office of the Attorney General, Jon Isaacs served as Chief Magistrate for three years until he was appointed to act as a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2002. In 2009, he was appointed Honourable Senior Justice of the Supreme Court. Then in 2014, Senior Justice Jon Isaacs was appointed Justice of the Court of Appeal, and was later appointed President of the Court of Appeal.
“The record will show that for 28 years Justice Isaacs has been an integral and important part of the Judiciary of The Bahamas. It is a record of public service to this nation. His commitment to service is something to be proud of and for all of us to respect,” he said. “As a judge he is known for his work ethic and he has never been the subject of public or private criticism that he takes too long to deliver his judgments. This is something to be commended, an example that current judges should emulate.”
He said that the retirement of Justice Isaac signals a loss of wealth of experience and knowledge that cannot easily be replaced.
“Justice Isaacs stands as an example to many young lawyers that public service can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. I again take this opportunity to encourage lawyers to join the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Justice Issacs, congratulations on an admirable career in law. We will certainly look to you for your advice, guidance, and hopefully public service in the future.”
Mr. Pinder also welcomed Justice Milton Evans as the newly appointed President of the Court of Appeal. “As we mark the retirement of Justice Isaacs, I am pleased to announce that the Governor General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, has agreed to appoint Justice Milton Evans as the next President of the Court of Appeal. I wish to give my personal congratulations to Justice Evans.”
He said that similar to Justice Isaacs, Justice Evans had a respected career at the Office of the Attorney General, formerly the Deputy Director of Legal Affairs. “I think the moral of this story is having a career at the Office of the Attorney General is favourable experience if you look to be a senior, respected member of the judiciary, rising to the highest levels.”
Senator Pinder noted that Justice Evans has been a judge since 2011 and for the last seven years has been a member of this Court of Appeal. “We are confident that he will provide many years of leadership of this Court and together with the Chief Justice, leadership in the administration of justice. I look forward to working with you and again congratulate you on this achievement.”
Also paying tributes to Justice Isaacs and welcoming Justice Evans were: Chief Justice, Sir Ian Winder and President of the Bar Association, Kahlil Parker.
Justice Isaacs said that it was difficult to say farewell after 40 years as a Jurist, when that time signifies the lifetime of many persons.
“I have led a blissful existence during my career,” he said. “I am especially proud of being a member of the Court Services Council and I am pleased by many of the initiatives I was able to implement during my tenure including the monthly digest, which is available to all judicial officers.” He also thanked his staff, secretaries, clerks, his colleagues and lawyers, with whom he worked over the past decades.
By: BETTY VEDRINE/Bahamas Information Services
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