Judge to Archie: Do the honourable thing

Another High Court judge has added his voice to the controversy surrounding allegations into the conduct of Chief Justice Ivor Archie.

Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh in an e-mail to colleagues last Friday, called on the CJ to, “do the honourable thing”, in the face of a mounting chorus of condemnation against him.

Boodoosingh admitted the public focus on the Judiciary contained in media reports on Archie’s alleged conduct continues to, “get more shocking.”

“All is not well on Knox Street,” Boodoosingh said. “We have had leaks of e-mail conversations among judges, then we had judges placing an anonymous advertisement; neither was good for the judiciary as we all know.”

Boodoosingh said he chose to speak up because of his commitment to the oath he took as a judge a decade ago and, “will not stand accused of having been a part of the judiciary and remained silent on the most significant threat to our institution in a very long time.” Boodoosingh’s e-mail was sent to the Chief Justice and all other judges.

While not addressing Archie directly, Boodoosingh imparted this advice, “When grave allegations are made about us, we just cannot sit back and feel they will pass or go away; that it could be business as usual. Only recently, the Law Association labelled Archie’s continued silence on the allegations “reckless.”

He subsequently addressed some of them, saying it was “false and irresponsible” to suggest that he discussed with his fellow judges the hiring of any private security firm to provide personal security for them or that he recommended convicted fraudster Dillian Johnson for state housing.

He has, however, admitted that he recommended “some needy and deserving” people to the Housing Development Corporation in 2015. In his e-mail, Boodoosingh said judges must be careful who they associated with.

“We must not ask favours of others whether the favours are asked of persons in the executive, legislature, business community, labour movement, arts, media and so on. “We may have views on politics, social issues (and) moral issues but we have to be circumspect to whom we express those views and in what setting.

“There are permissible areas for public engagement. We have guidelines for judicial conduct which set out all of these matters.” Boodoosingh also offered advice to judges on their friendships.

Boodoosingh’s e-mail was tagged: Request for Urgent Meeting. The original request for such a meeting was made by Justice Carol Gobin on November 19, when she sought a meeting with the CJ and judges to discuss the allegations. Two weeks later Archie declined to hold a meeting but said his door was always open to them. He also condemned the leaking of the e-mails.

Since then, the condemnation of his conduct in office has increased and has led to the Law Association retaining two senior counsel to advise on whether the prime minister can be approached to invoke the impeachment provisions of section 137 of the Constitution to have Archie’s conduct investigated. Boodoosingh said he was not too concerned about his e-mail being leaked to the media.