The Honourable Mr. Justice Stephen Gerard Isaacs was a jurist and the late Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Early life and education

Stephen Gerard Isaacs was the youngest child of Gerald and Sarah Isaacs.  He was born in Nassau, The Bahamas on 20 October 1954.   He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1977 from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Two years later, he enrolled at Buckingham University in Buckinghamshire, England, from which he obtained an LLB Degree in 1981. That same year, he joined Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the Degree of an Utter Barrister on 29 July 1982. He was admitted, sworn and enrolled a Counsel and Attorney of the Supreme Court on 17 September 1982.

Career

Following pupillage and a relatively short period in private practice, he entered public service in l994 as Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court. Thereafter, he held several posts in the Judiciary.

Isaacs served also as Registrar of the Court of Appeal, and on the Industrial Tribunal, before being appointed to the Higher Judiciary as a Supreme Court Justice in September 2002, when he assumed office as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court and was stationed in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Subsequently, on 12 February 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Senior Justice of the Supreme Court assuming responsibility as Head of the Criminal Division of the Court.  In December 2017 was appointed Acting Chief Justice.

After service as Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Isaacs was appointed to the substantive post, as Chief Justice, on 9 July 2018 and took the oath of office 10 August 2018.  

Personal life

Isaacs was the father of two children - Stephen, Jr. and Capri.

In his spare time, Isaacs pursued sports, especially tennis.

Death

Isaacs died of cancer on 24 August 2018 at Doctors Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.  He was 63.  He was accorded a State Funeral on Friday, 7 September 2018 at the Christ Church Cathedral.