George Singh

George Bawa Singh (died 9 March 1999) was a Belizean judge, who served briefly as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.[1]

Career

Singh entered public service in 1955, but later changed course to pursue a legal career, and went back to school.[1][2] He held the posts of Solicitor General and Director of Public Prosecutions, and later played a significant role in the establishment of the Family Court, on which he also served as its first judge.[1][2] In 1991 he was named a Justice of the Supreme Court.[2] He was sworn in as Chief Justice on 2 February 1998, along with Supreme Court Puisne Justices Manuel Sosa and John Rivero. He took up the CJ position at a busy time, when there were plans to add two temporary justices from Australia to help with processing the sizeable number of civil cases before the court.[2] However, with Singh's failing health in mind, just a few months later PM Manuel Esquivel transferred him to a less demanding position as a judge of the Court of Appeal and named Manuel Sosa in his place as CJ, in a controversial move right before the Belizean general election, 1998.[3][4] He died of illness the following year.[1]

Personal life

Singh is the son of a Sikh immigrant from India, but was raised Christian.[2][5] Singh graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica in 1978.[2] He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren.[1] Among his sons is former Minister of Police Douglas Singh.,[5] and current CEO of Trade and Investments for Belize, Michael Singh

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Justice George Singh dies". News 5 Belize. 1999-03-09. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Chief and two new justices sworn in". News 5 Belize. 1998-02-02. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  3. ↑ "New Chief Justice to be appointed before election". News 5 Belize. 1998-08-19. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  4. ↑ "Sosa sworn in as Chief Justice". News 5 Belize. 1998-08-26. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  5. 1 2 "Immigrant Stories: Belize". Sikh Global Village. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
Legal offices
Preceded by
George Brown		 Chief Justice of the Belize Supreme Court
1998 		Succeeded by
Manuel Sosa
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