Former Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, retired Justice James Patterson passed away on Sunday morning at his home, following a period of illness.

The 89-year-old would have been celebrating his 90^th Birthday in two weeks.

Patterson who was well respected in the legal community was controversially chosen and sworn-in by former President David Granger as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission in 2017. His appointment was challenged by the then Opposition.

He oversaw the 2018 local government elections, but the case over his appointment made its way to the Caribbean Court of Justice, which eventually ruled that his appointment by Mr. Granger was unconstitutional.   He left office just after that ruling and kept a low-profile since.

Justice Patterson, who was also a trained and certified psychiatrist, served as the Chairman of the 2016 Commission of Inquiry that examined the deadly Camp Street jail fire.

He is being remembered as a stern legal mind, who was celebrated for his knowledge of legal matters and detailed rulings, and his ability to speak both Latin and French.  

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