Ellen Carolus sworn in as Master of Supreme Court |10 October 2015
Ellen Carolus was sworn into office as Master of the Supreme Court in a ceremony at State House yesterday morning.
She took the Oath of Allegiance and the Judicial Oath before President James Michel and in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure, chief justice Mathilda Twomey, president of the Court of Appeal Justice Francis MacGregor, deputy speaker of the National Assembly Andre Pool, judges and justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, chairperson and members of the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA), Attorney General Rony Govinden, her family members as well as senior officials in the Office of the President.
President Michel congratulated Master Carolus after she had taken her oaths and noted that her expertise and diligence would certainly contribute to the improvement and efficiency of the Seychelles judiciary.
Ms Carolus was recommended for the post to President Michel by the CAA. She is the first Master of the Supreme Court after the separation of such a position from the functions of Registrar of the Supreme Court in 2008.
Ms Carolus, a mother of two daughters, lives at Anse Royale where she also attended primary and secondary schools.
She started her career as a trainee public prosecutor in the Attorney General’s chamber in 1992. In 1997 she left for further studies at the University of Mauritius where she obtained a Bachelor of Law. This led to her admission to the bar in 2002.
In 2003, she was employed as state counsel in the department of legal affairs where she was promoted to assistant principal state counsel then principal state counsel. She then followed further training in 2006 in legal drafting organised by the Commonwealth and by the Legal Training Institute of Malaysia in 2008.
Ms Carolus practiced as an attorney-at-law in the Supreme Court of Seychelles in 2009, and from 2011 to April 2014 she worked as a general private practitioner.
She served as the director of legal affairs in the Fair Trading Commission from 2010 to 2011, as well as legal consultant on various projects. Until her nomination and swearing yesterday, Ms Carolus had been working as legal counsel to the Sacos Group Ltd.
She has been a full member of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsels since 2012.
Speaking to the press after taking her oath, Ms Carolus explained what it means to be the Master of the Supreme Court.
“My appointment to the judiciary is a great honour for me as the judiciary is an institution that has an important role, and I am proud to belong to it. It is a way for me to serve my country and the Seychellois people. For my professional career, it is also a big step forward and this makes me very happy,” Ms Carolus said.
The Master of the Supreme Court is a procedural judge. For example, when a court case is filed, it may be "mentioned" before the Master, who may set dates for the hearing before a judge, and undertake procedural matters related to this. She can rule on cases such as the non-contested divorce cases, uncontested appointment and confirmation of executors, and all matters of pleadings and procedure up to the stage of hearing, in civil cases, and such other matters as determined by the Chief Justice, as provided for in the Constitution.
Ms Carolus described her appointment in such a post as both a personal achievement which she is very happy with, but also a challenge she is willing and ready to face.
She will take up her new position in a week or so.
