The Honourable Mr. Justice Jon Isaacs, MB demitted office as the President of the Court of Appeal on January 20, 2025, after cultivating a distinguished career in public service, and serving as a jurist for over 40 years.
Retired President Isaacs was called to The Bahamas Bar in 1984 and joined the Office of the Attorney General. For 13 years, he served in various capacities at the Office of the Attorney General, including as a Civil Litigator, Legal Advisor to the Government and a Prosecutor. Retired President Isaacs was then promoted to Assistant Director of Legal Affairs. He was then appointed Chief Magistrate in 1997.
In 2000, Retired President Isaacs was appointed as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court before being confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice in 2002. In 2007 and 2010, he was appointed, pursuant to the Constitution, as an Election Court Judge in a general Election and Bye Election, respectively. In 2009, he was made a Senior Justice of the Supreme Court. Finally, in 2014, he became a Justice of the Court of Appeal before ascending to President of the Court of Appeal.
Retired President Isaacs has extensive litigation expertise both as a practitioner and having authored numerous landmark decisions in a plethora of legal areas. Included in these decisions are those affirmed by the Privy Council in Belitza Marling Sagaray Silva And Replay Destinations (Bahamas) Ltd and in David Moree Junior and Norman Whitlock. He also has numerous landmark decisions in the Court of Appeal including BPL and Dean, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited And Geltex Trading Corporation Limited, Chub Cay Realty Llc and Richard and Pamela Escobar (Land Law), Ricardo Pratt v. West End Resort Limited. Retired President Isaacs also has a number of pending decisions before the Privy Council, including one involving one of the largest land developments in The Bahamas and another one with profound potential impact on the law regarding loans and attorneys in conveyancing transactions.
Retired President Isaacs also brings a wealth of criminal knowledge experience as a prosecutor and as the author of many landmark criminal judgements. This allows him to offer guidance to our clients when a matter has certain penal elements. His extensive experience in public law is also valuable to our clients who may have questions surrounding a decision involving an entity of the Government.
Additionally, Retired President Isaacs developed an early love for teaching when he served as an English and Literature teacher at Cornwall College in Jamaica. In the legal arena, he utilizes his expertise and experience to train future generations of attorneys. Currently, he is a frequent guest lecturer at the Eugene Dupuch Law School and the University of The Bahamas Law School. He has also served as a judge in international moots involving students from around the Caribbean.
Additionally, Retired President Isaacs enjoys a well-rounded existence outside of the law. He is an avid lifelong tennis player, being a member of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association as well as a private member’s club. He has also played football and rugby for most of his adult life; he lends his legal acumen to both disciplines having served on both the Disciplinary Appeals Board for the Bahamas Football Association and the Disciplinary Appeals Board for the Bahamas Rugby Football Association. He is also a member of a horticultural society. Finally, his philanthropic endeavours include causes involving autism and support for local theater and the performing arts.