Retired Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, has been named one of the 2021 Eminent Caribbean Jurist. The announcement and presentation was made in a brief ceremony at King’s House this afternoon.
At the ceremony, which was hosted by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Academy for Law, the Honourable Mrs. Justice McCalla was presented with a publication, Eminent Jurist Awards: Pioneering Caribbean Jurist 2021, in which she is memorialized.
The Award was presented by the Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson, a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice who is based in Trinidad and Tobago.
In congratulating Justice McCalla, Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen said, “I am very proud of retired Chief Justice McCalla. She is one who can be considered a success story. Thank you so much for your contribution to the nation and the region”.
Commissioner of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission, Caribbean Court of Justice the Honourable B. St. Michael Hylton who gave an overview of the publication, said he was delighted that the Honourable Mrs. Justice Zaila McCalla had been recognized as one of this year’s honourees.
In her response, Justice McCalla thanked Justice Winston Anderson, for travelling from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to be part of the presentation ceremony. She further commented that, “I am motivated and inspired by the presentation of this book and I hope other women judges will be inspired as well.”
His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica presenting retired Chief Justice McCalla with the publication: Pioneering Caribbean Women Jurists, in which she is memorialized.
Justice McCalla also thanked, eminent judge Mrs. Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, for always being supportive of her while she served in the High Court, the Honourable Mr. B. St. Michael Hylton for crafting the publication and her children for being part of her support system.
The October 2021 publication spotlights Pioneering Caribbean Women Jurists, and selected retired Chief Justice McCalla from a field of over eighty nominees.
The presentation was an integral aspect of the virtual launch of the book, which is slated for 12th October 2021. The Eminent Caribbean Jurist Awards Series was established in 2019 by the CCJ Academy for Law.