High Court rules that President can appoint Senior Counsel

Guyana’s High Court has ruled that the President has the power to appoint Senior Counsel.

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan in a detailed ruling on the matter of Timothy Jonas vs the Attorney General et al declared that the Executive President retains the prerogative of the sovereign to elevate members of the local bar to the dignity of senior counsel.

Jonas had challenged last year’s appointment by former President David Granger of four senior counsel. The main argument he advanced was that the appointments made by Granger interferes with the jurisdiction of the Judiciary.