The new justice told reporters: “I wish to say thanks to the Judicial Appointments Committee for having invited me for an interview and making a recommendation to the Honourable Prime Minister for an appointment.
“I would just say very briefly that my singular goal is to serve the people of Barbados, to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice in the best way that I can, and also to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens of this country. I look forward to a productive sojourn in service to the nation of Barbados.”
Dr. Wells holds a bachelor’s degree in literature and history, a bachelor’s degree in law, a master’s degrees in international relations and sociology from the University of the West Indies, as well as a master of laws (LL.M.) in international trade law. He completed doctoral studies at Queen’s University and at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. His doctoral dissertation at uOttawa, written under the supervision of Professor Vanessa MacDonnell, provides a critical assessment of the international human rights jurisprudence of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
He has been admitted to the Bar in Jamaica and Ontario, and has published in the West Indian Law Journal, the Caribbean Law Review and Dalhousie Law Journal.
Dr. Wells’ areas of research interest span international human rights law; gender, sexuality and the law; transformative and comparative constitutionalism; and equality studies. His work includes the development of a monograph on free speech and privacy law, and the examination of gender and sexuality legal issues in a Caribbean context.
“I am thrilled that Justice Wells has been appointed to the High Court of Barbados. His track record of innovative and rigorous research, as well as his commitment to justice and human rights, will make him an ideal judge,” says MacDonnell, co-director of the uOttawa Public Law Centre.
Congratulations Justice Wells!