Former Chief Justice Sir Clifford Grant honored retiring Supreme Court Judge Mr. Justice Stuart during his farewell speech on April 6, 1978, acknowledging the judge’s dedication to the law and his significant contributions to the Supreme Court. The tribute was part of a special sitting of the Supreme Court of Fiji held in Suva to celebrate Mr. Justice Stuart’s retirement.
Sir Clifford highlighted that Mr. Justice Stuart had a 35-year career as a barrister and solicitor in Fiji, from 1938 until becoming a Supreme Court judge in 1973. He also served as the president of the Fiji Law Society between 1962 and 1964 and was known for his active role in the community.
At the time of his retirement, Mr. Justice Stuart was 68 years old, which was the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court judges set by Parliament. Sir Clifford expressed his regret at losing Mr. Justice Stuart’s vast legal knowledge, humanity, and wisdom, stating that his absence from the Bench would be a significant loss.
He noted that Mr. Justice Stuart excelled in a profession that has historically struggled with its public image. Sir Clifford referenced literary perspectives of lawyers, highlighting that figures such as Shakespeare and poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge often depicted them unfavorably. Despite these long-standing stereotypes, he praised Mr. Justice Stuart for embodying the virtues expected of a judge, including hard work, thoroughness, and diligence, asserting that there was nothing in his past that warranted forgiveness.