ACTING PRESIDENT SWEARS IN CHIEF JUSTICE RONNIE BOODOOSINGH — WHILE THE REAL PRESIDENT TAKES VACATION!

ByJ. Anderson Posted on Updated on
Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh being sworn in by Acting President Wade Mark
Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh being sworn in by Acting President Wade Mark

Trinidad’s justice system just deliver more suspense than a Netflix courtroom drama with Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh being sworn in by acting President Wade Mark.

Yesterday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie officially called time on his robe, signing off after years on the bench. Today, yes, the very next day , Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh was sworn in. But the plot twist? The sitting President is on vacation.

With President Christine Kangaloo off enjoying some well-earned downtime, Acting President Wade Mark, a seasoned UNC politician, stepped up to do the honours. At 2 p.m., under Section 102 of the Constitution, Mark officially swore in Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, sealing one of the fastest judicial successions in recent memory.

You couldn’t script it better. One day the CJ retires, the next day a new one’s in, all while the President is sipping tea overseas.
Trinidad never disappoints.

The Legal Side (for the serious people in the back)

The process is technically airtight: the Constitution allows the President or Acting President to appoint the Chief Justice after consulting the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. So, no rules broken, but it sure raises eyebrows that the Acting President happens to be a front line UNC politician.

So Who Is Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh Anyway?

Ronnie Boodoosingh isn’t some new face in the legal world, he’s been around, earning his stripes the long way:

  • Education: Bachelor of Laws (Honours) 1990; Legal Education Certificate 1992; Master of Laws (International Dispute Resolution) from University of London.
  • Career Path: Started at J.D. Sellier & Co., then spent seven years as a state prosecutor at the DPP’s Office before joining the Hugh Wooding Law School as a lecturer and head of Trial Advocacy.
  • Judicial Journey: Appointed High Court Judge in 2007, promoted to Court of Appeal Judge in 2020, and now Chief Justice, 2025.
  • Known For: Strong focus on ethics, courtroom advocacy, and judicial training. He also helped run a Human Rights Clinic at Hugh Wooding and trained police and teachers alike in justice education.

Married to attorney Aberleen Boodoosingh, he’s known as thoughtful, methodical, and refreshingly drama-free.

Notable Rulings

Justice Boodoosingh’s name appears on several significant rulings, including:

  • Wheeler v. Walters (2014): A key civil matter defining boundaries of liability and damages.
  • Carnbee Property Appeal (2023): Part of the appellate panel that settled a long-running Tobago land ownership case.
  • Known for writing clear, plain-spoken judgments, not the “only-lawyers-understand” kind.

He’s also no stranger to speaking truth to power; back in 2018, he voiced concerns about judicial administration under CJ Archie, calling for greater accountability.

What It All Means

Trinidad’s judiciary just did a lightning-fast leadership shuffle. One day we’re waving goodbye to CJ Archie; the next, Acting President Wade Mark is swearing in Ronnie Boodoosingh Chief Justice, while the actual President is off the radar.

Legally sound? Yes. Politically spicy? Definitely.

Expect Boodoosingh to focus on professionalism, education, and court efficiency, but the real story will be how he steers the judiciary through the lingering shadows of the Archie era and public scrutiny over judicial independence.

For now, the robe fits, and the country waits to see if he wears it with quiet reform or loud change.

Final Word

Only in Trinidad could the justice system turn a constitutional transition into a mini-soap opera.
But if Ronnie Boodoosingh’s career says anything, it’s this: beneath the headlines and bacchanal, he’s a man of the law.

We’ll be watching.

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