Telford Georges : A Biography

Telford Georges is one of the most distinguished jurists the Caribbean region has produced.

Born in Dominica, he graduated from the University of Toronto Law School and was called to the Bars of England and Wales and of Trinidad and Tobago.

After a number of years in private practice and a period as a High Court judge in Trinidad, he was appointed Chief Justice of Tanzania and later served as Chief Justice in Zimbabwe and finally in The Bahamas.

Renowned throughout the Caribbean and beyond for his erudition, his mastery of the language and techniques of legal reasoning and, above all, his integrity and total independence from political influences, Telford Georges has been much in demand as a Chairman of Commissions of Enquiry and, at a more informal level, as a public speaker on important legal issues.

The first two chapters of this book are essentially biographical, tracing the life story of Telford Georges from the childhood years in Dominica, through the years of practice in Trinidad, followed by the Tanzania and Zimbabwe years, and culminating in The Bahamas period. Chapter three contains transcribed conversations with Telford, in which he gives the reader many fascinating insights into the judicial thought processes, and expresses his views on a number of controversial issues.

Chapter four presents extracts and in-context analyses of some of Telford Georges' most significant judgements dealing with a wide variety of legal issues in both public and private law areas, which stand as a major contribution to Caribbean jurisprudence.

Finally, chapter five contains a selection of Telford's groundbreaking addresses and lectures on various topics of interest not only to lawyers but to the wider public.