Government of Barbados - Chief Justice

Sir David Anthony Cathcart Simmons, K.A., B.C.H., Q.C., LL.M. (Lond.), Hon. LL.D (Lond.), assumed office as the 12th Chief Justice of Barbados on January 1, 2002.

Sir David was born on April 28, 1940 and was educated at the Lodge School. Between 1960 and 1965 he studied Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, graduating in 1963, with the LL.B. (Hons.) degree and in 1965, the Master of Laws degree (LL.M).

After lecturing in law in London until 1970, he returned to Barbados and joined the Law Chambers of Mr. Henry Forde, Q.C. Between 1970 and 1975, Sir David lectured part-time in law at the University of the West Indies. In 2003, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the U.W.I. and was also awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) by the University of London - the first Caribbean person to be accorded that high distinction by that University. In 2006, Sir David was elected as an Honorary Bencher of the Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn, the Inn of Court at which he qualified as a Barrister-at-Law.

Sir David has had an outstanding career as a lawyer in Barbados and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1984. Among the highlights of his practice as an attorney-at-law are his successful representation of clients in 32 of 33 murder cases and his success in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the first civil appeal from Barbados in 30 years to that body in 1982 in the case Elias v. Sahely.

From 1976 he served continuously for 25 years in the Parliament of Barbados and in 2001, he retired from active politics. Appointed twice as Attorney-General of Barbados, first, from 1985 to 1986, and from 1994 to 2001, he reformed and modernized the laws of Barbados in a wide variety of areas; represented Barbados at regional and international fora and has published widely. Sir David also acted as Prime Minister of Barbados on many occasions between 1994 and 2000.

As Attorney-General, Sir David presided over many initiatives and conferences including being Chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (1997/98); Chairman of the EU/Caribbean Conference which developed the "Barbados Plan of Action" (1996); Chairman of the Joint US/Caribbean Sub-Committee which developed a Plan of Action on Justice and Security issues, signed by President Clinton and Caribbean Heads (1997); Chairman of the Regional Committee for the establishment of a Maritime Cooperation Against the Traffic in Illicit Narcotic Drugs in the Caribbean project (1999-2002); Chairman of the Preparatory Committee to establish the Caribbean Court of Justice (1999-2001); first Chairman of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (2003-2004); Chairman of the High Level Task Force to supervise the inauguration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (2004-2005).

In 2001, for his contribution to public service, law and politics, he was awarded the Barbados Centennial Honour (B.C.H.), and Barbados' highest national honour, Knight of St. Andrew (K.A.).

Sir David Simmons is married to former High Court Judge, Madam Justice Marie MacCormack, the first woman to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Barbados. They have two children, Gavin and Lynne-Marie.