Justice Koylass — a man of fairness

THE LATE Justice Harold Koylass was yesterday described as a man of fairness. Koylass who died last week at the age of 78, was paid glowing tribute by his friend of 45 years — retired Appeal Court Judge Anthony Lucky, now a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

The funeral service was held at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval, and officiated by Father Garth Eversley. Members of the legal fraternity turned out to pay tribute to Justice Koylass who left the Bench at age 71 after two consecutive contracts after his official retirement at age 65. They included Chief Justice Sat Sharma and present judges Lionel Jones, Margot Warner and Herbert Volney, along with retired judges Cecil Kelsick (CJ), George Edoo, Ralph Narine, and Clebert Brooks. DPP Geoffrey Henderson was also present.

In his tribute, Justice Lucky said, “It is normally said that judges are appointed from among persons enjoying the highest reputation for fairness, honesty and integrity and of recognised competence in the field of law. “Justice Harold Peter Koylass was such a person whose life exhibited standards of conduct which are difficult to emulate,” Justice Lucky added. The international judge told the congregation that Justice Koylass was always fair to everyone. “The fact that he came from humble circumstances in Penal was an incentive rather than a barrier for advancement as he pursued and achieved his goals. He was a man of all seasons, a man of deep spirituality, a family man, and a conscientious and dedicated worker.”

Three of Justice Koylass’ sons are engineers and another is a surveyor. Justice Lucky said he once asked his dear friend how come none of his sons became lawyers. The late judge said his sons chose their own careers and he encouraged and helped them. Justice Koylass served in nearly every department of law in the Government Service. He was a magistrate, a Crown Counsel, Senior Crown Counsel, Director of Public Prosecutions, Chairman of the Tax Appeal Board and a Judge of the Supreme Court. After he retired from the Bench, he was made a member of the Law Commission. After he retired from the Bench at age 65, he was asked by the then Chief Justice Clinton Bernard to stay on. Despite his retirement, Justice Koylass agreed to stay on until his second contract ended in 1996 at age 71. Justice Koylass was a past student of Presentation College, San Fernando. He was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, London in 1956 and admitted to practice in Trinidad and Tobago later that year.