Sir Michael Barnett: Serving On The Bench Is An Awesome Responsibility

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Over the decades, Sir Michael Barnett has served in significant roles in the judiciary.

Recounting his journey, Sir Michael was sworn in as chief justice in 2009.

He says it was a quick transition for him as he was attorney general under the then-Ingraham administration at that time.

The move, however, didn’t come without its fair share of controversy.

“There was (sic) a lot of persons who thought that it was unwise or improper for me to assume that position,” Sir Michael said.

“Anyway, the appointment was made and I accepted the appointment. It is an adjustment from being lawyer, attorney general, and ordinary citizen to being chief justice because chief justice, you have a lot of restraints on your behavior, things you can do and things you can’t do, things you can say and things you cant say.”

Sir Michael also acknowledged concern that his politics would impact his stance on the bench.

But despite that, he says his ability to work with leaders of both parties proved politics never affected him.

The former chief justice says his role as attorney general helped him in his role as chief justice.

He says being A.G. broadened his knowledge of how government operates and opened his eyes to the challenges of an archipelagic nation.

In 2020, Sir Michael was sworn in as Court of Appeal president.

He says the appellant level has more interesting work.

“There’s less administrative responsibility as president of the Court of Appeal because you don’t have the whole bureaucracy of the Supreme Court and the Magistrate’s Court to manage and you really only dealing with law, you’re reviewing the work of a trial judge,” Sir Michael said.

And most recently, he became one of the four law reform commissioners.