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(age 51), Mr Justice Blair-Kerr (age 60) and
Mr Justice Briggs (age 58). Mr Justice Blair-Kerr
is the most senior of the three judges holding the
post of "Senior Puisne Judge" and acts for the
Chief Justice in his absence. The relative merits
of each candidate were considered by the Governor
in his despatch of 4 August 1972. One further
possibility that was considered was the contin-
uance in office of Sir Ivo Rigby. This would
however be conditional upon the retiring age for the
Chief Justice being raised. As Mr Justice Blair
has less than two years to serve before retirement
and his appointment would also be subject to
which
Article XVI A of the Letters Patent/ governing
retirement age being amended.
4. The Governor came down firmly against
Mr Huggins and was also against the suggestion
that Sir Ivo Rigby should be asked to continue in
office. But if the retiring age could be raised
said he
he/would prefer Mr Justice Blair-Kerr to Mr Justice
he/would
Briggs. The Governor had previously nominated
Mr Justice Briggs as a second choice on the
assumption that Mr Justice Blair-Kerr was ruled
out because he had less than 2 years to serve
before retirement.
5. The question of whether the retiring age should
be amended was considered by the Legal Adviser,
Sir Vincent Evans. His conclusion was that the an
extension of the retiring age should only be
contemplated if there were serious doubts of the
suitability of a younger candidate and if the older
/candidate
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