New Royal Court judge takes oath
THE new judge of the Royal Court has taken her oath.
Catherine Fooks takes over from Russell Finch, who retired as a full-time judge last year. The position was created in 2005 following changes to the Royal Court system and now-Lt-Bailiff Finch had held the post since then.
Judge Fooks is a former Blanchelande pupil who went on to gain an undergraduate degree in jurisprudence at Oxford University. She was called to the Guernsey Bar in July 1989 and had worked for Randell & Loveridge since then.
As a senior partner, for some years she took a key role in the operational and financial management and development of the firm and its individual practitioners.
‘I particularly enjoy mentoring and developing our younger lawyers,’ she said.
Judge Fooks has a wealth of experience in many areas of law, specialising in matrimonial and criminal work.
She has given pro bono assistance to the Citizens Advice Bureau and The Guernsey Botanical Trust.
She was a governor of Blanchelande Girls’ College from 1995 to 2010 and is a former member of the council of St James and the committee of the National Trust of Guernsey.
Personal interests include music, theatre, books, travel and cooking.
At the swearing-in ceremony at a full sitting of the Royal Court, Bailiff Richard McMahon extended a warm welcome to Judge Fooks on behalf of everybody at the court.
‘You are something of a rarity in having stayed at the one firm, without any mergers, throughout your 30-plus years at the Bar,’ he said.
While she had had many years to observe the good, the bad and the ugly of those judges before whom she had appeared, and so may wish to imitate their better traits, Judge Fooks would inevitably bring her own style to her new office.
‘Last year, when welcoming the Deputy Bailiff [Jessica Roland], I also referred to some comments made by senior female judges from elsewhere in the Commonwealth contained in an article I had found helpful and make no apology for repeating them this morning,’ said Mr McMahon.
‘Judging is a difficult and important job. It can involve “thinking at its hardest”. It calls for integrity, the courage to make decisions which may not be popular, a sense of fairness, common sense, an analytical mind as well as knowledge of the law. But, it is a task of critical importance. If we fail, the rule of law will fail. It is as simple as that.
‘Accordingly, because you are equipped with the skills to which I have just referred, we know you are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and we do hope you will enjoy what will on most occasions be intellectually stimulating work.’
