Overachiever Judge Smuts bids farewell after 50-years of practicing law

’n Regter van die hooggeregshof en die stigter van die Regshulpsentrum (LAC), Dave Smuts, het na Justice Dave Smuts, one of the four judges who served on the Supreme Court of Namibia and the founder of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), has stepped down after an illustrious 50-year legal career. Born on November 17, 1954, Justice Smuts (70) began his academic journey in South Africa, completing his school education there. He went on to earn his law degree from the University of Stellenbosch in 1977. In 1983, he furthered his studies at the prestigious Harvard Law School, obtaining a Master of Laws degree. This he was able to do through the Rössing Foundation Leadership Scholarship and the Fulbright Scholarship. Smuts’ academic pursuits did not stop there. In 1990, he was elected as the Orville Schell, Jr. Fellow at Yale Law School, n the United States of America (USA), where he honed his legal skills. These accomplishments underscore not only his intellect but also his relentless pursuit of excellence.Professional journey Justice Dave Smuts ' professional journey began in 1982 when he was admitted as an attorney of the then Supreme Court of South West Africa. Following his return from Harvard, he joined Lorentz & Bone, Namibia 's oldest law firm until its closure in March 2006, as a professional assistant, swiftly rising to the position of partner. In 1988, Justice Smuts left the firm to establish the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) as its founding director, marking a significant milestone in his career dedicated to advancing justice and human rights. Recently, the LAC, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), successfully concluded its first five-day field-based paralegal training programme aimed at empowering San communities across Namibia. Announced last month, the initiative is part of LAC 's San Empowerment Project series, focusing on enhancing access to justice and fostering legal capacity-building among marginalized San communities.At Smuts ' farewell yesterday at the Supreme Court in Windhoek, Chief Justice Peter Shivute disclosed that Smuts authored over 130 reported judgments at the High Court and more than 80 at the Supreme Court. "As you retire, you leave behind a legacy of intellectual rigour, fairness, and commitment to justice. May your retirement be both restful and rewarding ". Out with the old, in with the newFollowing Justice Smuts ' retirement yesterday, Chief Justice Shivute swore in Honourable Justice Hosea Angula as a Supreme Court judge. Justice Angula, who made history in 2015 as the first Deputy Judge President, has served as an Acting High Court Judge since 1996 and was permanently appointed in 2016. Born in Ondangwa, Omusati region, he earned his law degree from the University of the North (now University of Limpompo) in 1982, was admitted as an attorney in 1985, and became a partner at Lorentz & Bone in 1988.

Overachiever Judge Smuts bids farewell after 50-years of practicing law

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Republikein 2025-03-07

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Overachiever Judge Smuts bids farewell after 50-years of practicing law

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