Parker appointed Judge

A FORMER senior Justice Ministry official, Dr Collins Parker, has been appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Namibia.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba appointed Parker as a High Court Judge in a permanent capacity with effect from the beginning of November, it was announced from the chambers of the Chief Justice on Friday. The appointment was made on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission.Judge Parker has been serving as an Acting Judge of the High Court for most of this year.He was first appointed as Acting Judge for a term from the beginning of March to mid-April, to a second term from mid-May to the end of July, and for a third term from September 6 to the end of October.Judge Parker is the first born Ghanaian to be appointed as a High Court Judge in Namibia.He previously served as a Judge of Swaziland’s Industrial Court for about two years until he resigned from that post in 1998, and had previously practised law in Zambia.Since joining the Ministry of Justice, where he finally held the post of Chief: Legal Services and International Cooperation, Judge Parker was also one of the members of the Namibian team that tried to persuade the International Court of Justice in 1999 that Kasikili Island in the Chobe River was part of Namibia’s territory and did not belong to Botswana.Judge Parker studied in Zambia, at Dalhousie University in Canada, and attained a doctorate degree at Pacific University in Los Angeles.Judge Parker’s is the first appointment of a High Court Judge in a permanent capacity since Judge Louis Muller was appointed with effect from December 1 last year.With Judge Parker included, the High Court now has seven permanently appointed Judges serving on its bench.Three long-time Acting Judges are also still on the bench.The appointment was made on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission.Judge Parker has been serving as an Acting Judge of the High Court for most of this year.He was first appointed as Acting Judge for a term from the beginning of March to mid-April, to a second term from mid-May to the end of July, and for a third term from September 6 to the end of October.Judge Parker is the first born Ghanaian to be appointed as a High Court Judge in Namibia.He previously served as a Judge of Swaziland’s Industrial Court for about two years until he resigned from that post in 1998, and had previously practised law in Zambia.Since joining the Ministry of Justice, where he finally held the post of Chief: Legal Services and International Cooperation, Judge Parker was also one of the members of the Namibian team that tried to persuade the International Court of Justice in 1999 that Kasikili Island in the Chobe River was part of Namibia’s territory and did not belong to Botswana.Judge Parker studied in Zambia, at Dalhousie University in Canada, and attained a doctorate degree at Pacific University in Los Angeles.Judge Parker’s is the first appointment of a High Court Judge in a permanent capacity since Judge Louis Muller was appointed with effect from December 1 last year.With Judge Parker included, the High Court now has seven permanently appointed Judges serving on its bench.Three long-time Acting Judges are also still on the bench.