Jamaica owes a ‘debt of gratitude to Chief Justice Wolfe’ for years of service to our country
Candice Stewart / Our Today
Former Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, OJ, passed away yesterday (April 18) at the age of 85.
Wolfe, who served as Chief Justice fro 1996 to 2007 was often described by colleagues as a hardworking and eminent jurist. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1967.
Prior to his illustrious career, he attended St Jago High School in St Catherine. Later on, he served as chairman of the school board for several years. Wolfe was also a devout Anglican and served as Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese.
He was a beacon of hope and inspiration for all those who sought to uphold the rule of law and promote the common good. He will always be remembered for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and his unwavering commitment to fairness and equality. We owe a debt of gratitude to Chief Justice Wolfe for his many years of service to our country.
ANdrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica
Wolfe remembered by political leaders
As he is remembered, Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, in a statement said, “Today, our nation mourns a great jurist and a distinguished public servant. [He] was a man of immense integrity, wisdom, and dedication to justice.”
Holness added that, “during [Wolfe’s] tenure, he made significant contributions to the development of our legal system. He was a beacon of hope and inspiration for all those who sought to uphold the rule of law and promote the common good. He will always be remembered for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and his unwavering commitment to fairness and equality”.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Chief Justice Wolfe for his many years of service to our country,” said Holness.
Adding to the bevy of tributes, the People’s National Party (PNP) shared a statement that, “Wolfe was a highly respected jurist, and his contributions to the development of the Jamaican legal system will not be forgotten. His long and distinguished career saw him serve as Chief Justice of Jamaica from 2007 to 2012, during which time he worked tirelessly to improve access to justice for all Jamaicans and to improve the operations of the courts”.
Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding said, “Chief Justice Wolfe was a trailblazer who left an indelible mark on Jamaica’s legal system. He was fearless, and demanded personal discipline and adherence to high standards of behaviour from all who came before him in court”.
“His contributions as head of the judiciary resulted in significant improvements to the justice system, which will benefit generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Golding said.
Wolfe is survived by his wife Audrey, three daughters including Supreme Court Judge Simone Wolfe-Reece, and several grandchildren.
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