Esteemed Jamaican jurist Dennis Morrison has been appointed as the Turks & Caicos Islands next Appeal Court president.

In a post on Instagram, Turks & Caicos Islands Governor Nigel Dakin wrote: “I signed the instrument appointing the next President of the Appeal Court of the Turks & Caicos Islands – Justice Dennis Morrison….”

Vastly experienced and revered, Morrison obtained law degrees from both the University of the West Indies, Norman Manley Law School and Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar). He was called to the Bar in 1975.

Stellar reputation, distinguished career

Morrison is one of Jamaica’s foremost attorneys, carving out a stellar reputation at the venerable law firm Dunn Cox where he plied his trade for 25 years. He is married to Janet Morrison, an accomplished attorney at Hart Muirhead Fatta.

In 1994 he became Queen’s Counsel and in 2008 he was appointed to Jamaica’s Court of Appeal. Eight years later, he ascended to president of Jamaica’s Court of Appeal.

Erudite, intelligent, and affable, Morrison epitomises the moniker, honourable. When reading law, Lords Denning, Scarman and Bingham – with their thought-provoking judgments – are hailed as master jurists. Jamaica and the Caribbean have its very own – Dennis Morrison.

With extensive experience across the Caribbean, Morrison has served as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Belize (2004-15) and the Eastern Caribbean, Court of Appeal in 2015. He has also been a Judge of the Court of Appeal of The Cayman Islands since May 2015.

On turning 70 last November, he retired from Jamaica’s Court of Appeal.

“I have been able to give back through teaching at Norman Manley Law School which is still an important part of what I do. In private practice, I think I was able to achieve a leading voice in relation to the Jamaican Bar Association, matters of human rights and the like.

“Then, here in the Court of Appeal, I think I had the good fortune of working with some great colleagues and to contribute something to the growth of the court over the last 12 years,” Morrison is reported to have said.

Honoured by nation, colleagues

He has been awarded Jamaica’s fifth highest national honour, membership in the Order of Jamaica.

Jamaica’s Chief Justice Bryan Sykes said of Morrison on his retirement: “Justice Morrison has contributed immensely to the development of the Caribbean jurisprudence at home in Jamaica. We are very familiar with his work in private practice and also as a jurist. He has reached heights in his career which make him one of the best judicial minds the court has had the pleasure of having.

“The judiciary of Jamaica and indeed the wider Caribbean community is indebted to Justice Morrison for the wealth of work that he has left us.”

Justice Adrian Saunders, president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, said: “Jamaica has every right to be justly proud and to celebrate this most distinguished son of the soil. Equally, we and the rest of the Caribbean are also proud to claim him as one of ours.

“His service to the region has been immeasurable and profound. Dennis embodies greatness. I have no doubt that he will be sorely missed as president of the Court of Appeal of Jamaica.”