The Government has announced that Honourable Samuel Bulgin, Attorney General of the Cayman Islands has confirmed that he will retire from his role in August 2027, bringing to a close a distinguished career in the Cayman Islands Government, including acting as the islands’ principle legal advisor as Attorney General since July 2003.
In commenting on the upcoming retirement, Her Excellency Governor Jane Owen stated, “The Honourable Samuel Bulgin’s contribution to the Cayman Islands has been exceptional and enduring. For more than two decades he has upheld the rule of law with skill, commitment and quiet determination. His standing as the longest-serving Attorney General across the Overseas Territories reflects the deep trust he has earned from Government and the people of these Islands. The Attorney General’s role is a vital component of Cayman’s democratic governance and integrity. The Judicial and Legal Services Commission will lead a rigorous and transparent process to identify a new Attorney General, providing time to ensure a smooth transition in mid-2027.”
The Honourable Samuel Bulgin has said that it has been a privilege of his professional life to serve as the Attorney General of the Cayman Islands. He noted that the Attorney General is the primary guardian of the rule of law and the Constitution in a proper functioning democracy “I have chosen to give the Governor and my eventual successor the fullest possible notice of my intention to retire next year, so that this transition can be managed thoughtfully and without disruption to the important work of my Office. I remain wholly committed to every function under my portfolio for the remainder of my term, and I have complete confidence that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission will identify a successor of the highest calibre to carry this work forward.”
Honourable Bulgin's appointment as Attorney General in 2003 was preceded by six years as Solicitor General and earlier service as Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel from 1992 to 1998. He made King’s Counsel in 2004 and also serves as a Justice of the Peace for the Cayman Islands. He is a member of the Grand Court Rules Committee, member of the Insolvency Rules Committee, former Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Steering Group, member of the National Security Council and the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy. He also served twice as Chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.
Earlier this year he was recognised at the Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference in the British Virgin Islands as the longest-serving Attorney General within the Overseas Territories, with fellow delegates acknowledging his 23 years of dedication to the rule of law, legal excellence and the advancement of justice across the Overseas Territories.
Following notification of the Attorney General's intention to retire, Her Excellency Governor Jane Owen has asked the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to commence preparations for the recruitment of a successor through an open and competitive process. The Governor has requested that the recruitment process begin at an early stage to allow sufficient time to identify and appoint a successor and to support appropriate transition arrangements before the current Attorney General demits office. Once the recruitment exercise has concluded, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission will provide advice to the Governor on a recommended appointment in accordance with the Constitution.
The Attorney General’s Chambers under the Portfolio of Legal Affairs provides legal advice and legal representation to all government departments and some statutory authorities and government companies, as well as the Parliament, and is responsible for drafting all laws for the Cayman Islands. The portfolio responsibilities include the legal department, legislative drafting, law revision, Law Reform Commission, Financial Reporting Authority, Anti-Money Laundering Unit and the Truman Bodden Law School.