The chief justice of Barbados is the head of the Supreme Court of Barbados as defined by the constitution.[1]
The constitution of Barbados states:
- 80.1 There shall be for Barbados a Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of a High Court and a Court of Appeal, with such jurisdiction, powers and authority as may be conferred upon those Courts respectively by this Constitution or any other law.
- 80.2 The judges of the Supreme Court shall be the Chief Justice and such number of Puisne Judges as may be prescribed by Parliament
- 81.1 The Chief Justice shall be appointed by the Governor General, by instrument under the Public Seal, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the leader of the Opposition.
The first chief justice of Barbados and St Lucia, Sir R Bowcher Clarke, took office on 13 December 1841. In 2020, Justice Patterson Cheltenham was appointed the 14th incumbent.
- ^ "Establishment of Supreme Court". Retrieved 24 September 2015.