Premier pays tribute to former Chief Justice Sir Richard Ground

Bermuda’s former Chief Justice Sir Richard Ground died on Saturday.

He held the top judiciary post on the island for eight years before retiring to England in 2012.

Justice Ground had also worked in the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos in a long and distinguished legal career that was recognized by a knighthood in the Queen’s Honours List in the same year he retired.

A keen fisherman and an accomplished wildlife photographer, Justice Ground was hugely respected for his work in Bermuda, having also served as a Puisine Judge for six years from 1992 after being Attorney General in the Cayman Islands.

Following his first spell in Bermuda, he was appointed Chief Justice in Turks & Caicos before returning to take up the equivalent role in 2004.

Premier Craig Cannonier paid tribute in a statement:  “On behalf of the Government of Bermuda, I send condolences to the family of Sir Richard Ground whose untimely death this weekend has shocked people across the island.

"Sir Richard's contributions to Bermuda were many. As a member of Bermuda’s Court of Appeal and a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he ably presided over criminal and commercial cases while reforming the court system to make it more efficient and responsive.

“It is fair to say that in his time on the Bench, Sir Richard strengthened and maintained the island’s standing as a legal jurisdiction.

“Moreover, Sir Richard was an avid naturalist whose camera captured much that is beautiful about our island. There is no question that he loved Bermuda and gave his all to make a positive contribution.

“From the many comments I have heard this weekend, it is clear that Sir Richard was admired and respected by all who knew him professionally and by those fortunate enough to call him friend. Bermuda is the poorer for his loss.”

Justice Ground’s early academic career saw him study English Literature at Oxford University, before pursuing his legal qualifications at the Inns of Court School of Law in London.

He was called to the bar in 1976 and spent much of the early part of his career working in media law and dealing with defamation cases. As part of the 1 Brick Court Chambers, Justice Ground would proofread The Guardian two nights a week to check for any legal issues.

In 1983 he decided he wanted to gain more experience abroad and landed a crown counsel job in Cayman.

Of his first stint in Bermuda, he told the Sun back in 2012: “Bermuda was very different to the Caymans. The Caymans did not really have a history while Bermuda was steeped in this splendid past. It had a very different feel.

“I loved the variety of work I had. One day it would be commercial law, the next it would be a drugs case or a murder trial.”

He said that returning to Bermuda with his wife Dace in 2004 was like ‘coming home’.

Justice Ground, who was replaced at Chief Justice by Ian Kawaley, left the island having earned the respect and admiration of its top lawyers.

On his last court appearance, a number of the island's top lawyers praised his contribution and leadership.

Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions Rory Field said at the time: “What a good judge should be is fair and even-tempered, fun but not frightening.

“Someone who listens, works hard, knows the law. Someone who is intelligent. Someone who is impartial. Those are all things that the Chief Justice excels at.”

Lawyer Charles Richardson added: “The first time I heard your name actually was within the walls of Westgate and what I heard said about you was totally unexpected as what you might expect inmates to say about a Chief Justice. I heard that you were fair."

Upon announcing his retirement in 2012, Justice Ground told the Sun: “I’m looking forward to going fly fishing for trout on Derbyshire’s River Wye. I’ll still do a lot of photography I’m sure too.

“I’m looking forward to finding a nice house and having some time to read anything apart from legal books.”

Meanwhile, Shadow Attorney General Ms. Kim Wilson on Sunday also offered her condolences on the passing of Justice Ground.

She said: "During the period of time I was Attorney General I worked closely with Justice Ground. His passing offers me moments of reflection and I offer condolences from myself and on behalf of the Progressive Labour Party.”