Louise Blenman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise Esther Blenman
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chief Justice of Belize | |
| Assumed office 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Michelle Arana (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Georgetown, Guyana |
| Education | University of the West Indies (LL.B.)
Hugh Wooding Law School (L.E.C.) University of London (LL.M.) |
Louise Esther Blenman is a very important judge. She is the Chief Justice of Belize. This means she is the main judge in Belize. Before this, she was a judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. She made history by becoming the first woman to hold the Chief Justice position in Belize. She officially started this role on November 22, 2022.
Her Early Life and Education
Louise Blenman was born in Guyana. Later, she became a citizen of Saint Lucia. She studied law at the University of the West Indies. She earned her first law degree in 1986. Then, she got a special certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 1988. She also earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of London.
Her legal career began in Guyana in 1988. She worked in different roles there. She even served as the Acting Deputy Solicitor General. This is a high-level legal job for the government. In 1990, she received a special scholarship. This allowed her to study advanced law in London. During this time, she learned from a famous lawyer named Lord Anthony Lester.
In Guyana, she also worked as an acting Magistrate. A Magistrate is a judge who handles smaller legal cases. She also worked as a private lawyer. From 1992 to 2000, she taught law at the University of Guyana.
Becoming a Judge
In September 2000, Justice Blenman became the Solicitor General of Saint Lucia. She held this important government legal role for three years. In 2003, she was appointed as a High Court Judge. This was for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
As a High Court Judge, she worked in several countries. These included Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Anguilla. She also served on many important committees and boards. These groups helped improve the legal system. From 2010 to 2016, she led the Judicial Education Institute. This group helps judges learn and grow in their roles. She also helped with mediation committees. Mediation is a way to solve problems without going to court.
After serving for nine years as a High Court Judge, Justice Blenman was promoted. In 2012, she became a Justice of Appeal. This is an even higher level of judge. She served as an appellate judge for ten years. On September 2, 2022, she was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Belize.
