By Alicia Chamely
GOOD riddance!
This was the reaction of attorney Isreal Khan, SC, to Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s announcement that he would be retiring.
During his address at Tuesday’s Commemoration of the Opening of the 2025-2026 Law Term of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Trinidad and Tobago held at the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain, Archie announced he would be retiring from his post before the new law term ended.
The publicly outspoken Khan, who had called for Archie’s removal, spoke to the media shortly after Archie’s announcement at his St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, law chambers.
Asked what his first reaction to Archie’s planned retirement was, Khan said, “My first reaction was good riddance! Go in peace. It’s been seven years I have been struggling to have this man removed.”
Khan claimed Archie was “obviously compromised,” noting his close relationship with the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration and former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowely.
He said it was his belief that Archie was rightfully “pushed out” from his position and rather than waiting to be formally removed, announced his early retirement.
Khan said, “He had a personal relationship with (former) prime minister Rowley and thus no way Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General John Jeremie would have allowed him to stay in office as Chief Justice.”
“I would say that John Jeremie actually pushed him out and this is good for the judiciary and the country,” he added.
Using cricket as a reference, he said, “Well in cricketing terms, is he retiring as not out batsman or is he retiring hurt? Is he leaving the judiciary with his head high or bowed down in shame and disgrace?”
Khan acknowledged Archie as “a very good jurist, one of the best jurists in the Commonwealth.”
However, he said Archie’s downfall came when “his private life got intermingled with his public life and he didn’t pay attention to the judiciary.”
“So now the judiciary is in chaos,” he continued.
@azpnews.com Attorney Israel Khan SC shares his reaction to Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s decision to retire. Video: Alicia Chamely #ivorarchie #ChiefJustice #retirement #israelkhan #reaction
Khan said not only were the courts in chaos, but because of Archie being distracted by his personal life, the course of justice, especially in murder cases and police shootings, had been obstructed.
“He did not stand up for the dispossessed of this country,” Khan said, “In the fullest of time history will pass judgement on. As for me, it has been an upward struggle for seven years to have been removed as Chief Justice, so I say to him, good riddance.”
@azpnews.com Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles shares her thoughts on Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s decision to retire. Video: Alicia Chamely @pennelopebeckles_backup @officialpnm.tt #ivorarchie #ChiefJustice #retirement #pennybeckles #reaction
Archie has been criticised during his tenure, most recently after the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruling in favour of Marcia Ayers-Caesar after a legal battle over her resignation as a High Court judge, shortly after she was elevated to the position from her role as Chief Magistrate. The Privy Council found that her resignation was not done freely and was highly critical of the JLSC, led by the Chief Justice.
@azpnews.com Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj shares his reaction to Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s retirement announcement. Video: Alicia Chamely @deveshmaharajtt #ivorarchie ChiefJustice #retirement #justiceminister #reaction
Questions were also raised about Archie’s conduct after the 2018 shooting of Dillian Johnson, who was said to be his friend. Johnson is seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
After the Ayers-Caesar judgement, lawyers called for then prime minster Stuart Young to invoke Section 137 of the Constitution to investigate the Chief Justice.
