Voices Magazine Vol3 Issue 2

VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | August - September 2019 18 T he Faculty of Law on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 hosted a Distinguished Public Lecture at the Papine Campus as part of the its 10th anniversary celebrations. Speaking on the theme “Tomorrow’s Lawyers: Reshaping the Legal Paradigm,” the lecture was delivered by Jamaican-born Ontario Court of Appeal Judge, The Hon. Justice Michael Tulloch, who in his wide-ranging talk, called for a return to an emphasis on a sense of patriotism among Jamaicans who are committed to staying and building the country. “Patriotism is critically important; what it does is instils a certain sense in young people, that they will not want to leave this country,” he said. While acknowledging that prevailing socio-economic conditions within Jamaica make it challenging for young people to achieve personal satisfaction and economic fulfilment, Justice Tulloch urged students in attendance, to adopt a mind-set to stay and build their country, cautioning that otherwise “other people will come in, and take what is rightfully yours.” Pointing to the borderless world created by globalization, and the emerging Faculty of Law Hosts Distinguished Public Lecture by The Honourable Justice Michael Tulloch The Honourable Justice Mr. Michael H. Tulloch, Ontario Court of Appeal Judge delivering the Faculty of Law’s Distinguished Public Lecture titled “Tomorrow’s Lawyers: Reshaping the Legal Paradigm” on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at Lecture Theatre 50, Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Ja. Papine Campus. (l-r) Professor Stephen Vasciannie, President, UTech, Ja., Dr Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Dean, Faculty of Law, The Honourable Mr. Justice Michael Tulloch, Judge, Ontario Court of Appeal, The Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan Sykes, Chief Justice of Jamaica, Professor Colin Gyles, Deputy President, UTech, Ja. and Mrs. Mercedes Deane, University Registrar, pose for a photograph following the Distinguished Public Lecture. reality that competition within the legal profession is no longer local, Justice Tulloch underscored that the new type of lawyer must be committed the rule of law and justice, have a deep sense of value for service and love for country, while valuing principles over expediency and financial gain. He also encouraged the budding lawyers to commit to being “a voice for the voiceless and advocates for the disenfranchised” in distinguishing themselves from others in the profession around the world. Justice Tulloch pointed to Sir Norman Manley, Sir Grantley Adams and Forbes Burnham as examples of Caribbean patriots who used their legal training, education and passion for justice, not merely for personal economic gain, but to advocate for and to enrich their own countries. He also highlighted Thurgood Marshall as a black lawyer, driven by principles and patriotism, who inspired his own advocacy for community development and the promotion of education. Justice Tulloch has led systemic reviews of the justice system at various levels and provided leadership on legal and judicial committees. He has been engaged in the design and delivery of international justice sector reform programmes to a myriad of civic, charitable and community development initiatives. He was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2012 after serving as a Justice on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2003. In closing, Justice Tulloch commended UTech, Jamaica on being a beacon of transformative legal education in the region and expressed hope that the institution would soon realize its goal of the establishment of its own law school. He also commended the University on its on-going collaborative research and scholarship with a number of Canadian universities. The lecture was chaired by Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Dean, Faculty of Law.