Judge Fiona Robinson sworn in as new Justice of Appeal |07 September 2017

Judge Robinson taking her oaths in the presence of President Faure

Judge Fiona Robinson (née Laporte) was sworn into office as a new Justice of the Court of Appeal at a ceremony held at State House yesterday afternoon.

Judge Robinson took the oath of allegiance and the judicial oath in the presence of President Danny Faure, Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, president of the Court of Appeal Justice Francis Macgregor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mathilda Twomey, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of government business Charles Decommarmond, members of the judiciary, members of the Constitutional Appointments Authority (CAA) and other distinguished guests.

Judge Robinson was accompanied by her husband, her sister, her children, parents and her usher.

Her appointment follows recommendations made by the CAA to President Faure on September 1, 2017.

She replaces Judge January Henry Msoffe whose term of office in the Seychelles Court of Appeal ended on August 14, 2017.

Mrs Robinson holds a Master of Laws in International Maritime Law with distinction from the International Maritime Organisation International Maritime Law Institute in Malta and a degree of Bachelor of Laws with honours from the University of Mauritius.

She has drafted a number of written laws such as bills, regulated legislation, rules, orders and bye-laws during her tenure in the chambers of the Attorney General.

She has a wealth of experience in maritime regulations and delimitation of maritime boundaries having served on the committee of piracy and as member and legal advisor to the Seychelles Maritime Delimitations Technical County.

Judge Robinson, who was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court in January 2013, is now one of the five Seychellois Court of Appeal judges.

She said her role remains more or less the same but there are more responsibilities as the Court of Appeal is the final court and they have the final say on the decisions taken at the Supreme Court.

“It comes with a lot of responsibilities and you need to ensure you are making the right decision as it will affect the lives of the citizens,” she said.

She said negotiations are being made for the cases that she has been working on to be allocated to judges serving the Supreme Court,” she said.

“I will still be able to work on cases that need my ruling and to do sentencing as is allowed under the Constitution for a short period of time until I close my cases,” she said.