Justices Antoinette Moore and Francis Cumberbatch Honoured on Retirement

Two judges whose service on Belize’s bench spans roughly twenty years have been honoured as they retire. Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman and the Senior Courts of Belize hosted a retirement dinner for Justices Antoinette Moore and Francis Cumberbatch, recognizing their dedication to the judiciary and the people of Belize. Justice Moore joined the Supreme Court in 2014, serving for approximately twelve years. Her appointment was initially intended to last six months to help clear a backlog of criminal cases in Belmopan. She went on to preside over some of the country’s most closely watched trials, including the Danny Mason murder case and the manslaughter trial of former police corporal Kareem Martinez for the killing of fourteen-year-old Laddie Gillett. Before becoming a judge, Moore worked in criminal defence and human rights law. Her career also included training and legal reform work focused on women, children and other vulnerable groups, along with teaching at the University of Belize and Galen University. Justice Cumberbatch joined Belize’s Supreme Court in February 2018, giving him more than eight years of service here. The Guyanese jurist brought experience from several Caribbean jurisdictions. He previously worked in government legal offices in Guyana and The Bahamas and served as a High Court judge in the Eastern Caribbean, including as the presiding judge in Saint Lucia. The retirement dinner paid tribute to both judges for their years of service and their contribution to the administration of justice in Belize.