Governor Andrew Murdoch today said the report enables a line to be drawn under the matter and allows Justice Stoneham to return to her judicial responsibilities
A tribunal has cleared Justice Nicole Stoneham of allegations of misconduct, instead determining she made an error of law and judgment.
Governor Andrew Murdoch today published the tribunal’s report to draw a line under the matter, which now allows Justice Stoneham to return to her duties following a suspension since last July, pending the result of these hearings.
The allegation of misconduct stems from an incident recorded on the 11th of August 2023 on whether Justice Nicole Stoneham should be referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
There was a concern of bias over a case she had presided over and whether she should have recused herself.
The Court of Appeal decided, based on the information, that Justice Stoneham should have recused herself. Subsequently, the Judicial and Legal Services Committee concluded that there was a case to answer as to whether the the conduct of Justice Stoneham amounted to judicial misconduct.
Former Governor Rena Lalgie suspended Justice Stonehem on the 11th of July last year and appointed a tribunal.
After examination of court documents and hearing witness evidence, the Tribunal concluded Ms. Stoneham was not guilty of any misconduct in relation to the matter.
Rather, she accepts she made errors of law and judgement, which in their view, did not amount to misconduct.
Nor did her actions meet the threshold for removal from the bench due to misbehaviour, classed as serious misconduct sufficient to destroy confidence in a judge’s ability to properly perform their judicial responsibilities.
Calling the matter ‘ironic’, the tribunal noted that there would have been no need for Justice Stoneham to recuse herself – if she had told the court all the relevant facts of her connection to a person close to the case at the original recusal hearing.
The Tribunal said her failure to do so was described as ‘understandable’ however, an error of law.
In their words “[a]all judges make mistakes from time to time. Such mistakes are appropriately corrected through the appellate process.”
The report was released to media today by Governor Andrew Murdoch, which he said provides helpful clarity to the issues raised by the Court of Appeal judgment and the original complaint.
In a news release, Governor Murdoch said he was grateful for the report,” that it enables a line to be drawn under the matter and allows Justice Stoneham to return to her judicial responsibilities with all suggestions of judicial misconduct having been fully answered.”
He also noted the publication of the revised Judicial Complaints Protocol for Bermuda, published on 4 April 2025, which provides clear procedures for the response to allegations of judicial misconduct.
Justice Stoneham was called to the Bermuda Bar in 1993, first entering private practice in criminal, civil litigation, corporate and financial law.
Then, was appointed Magistrate and eventually to the Supreme Court in 2016.
She later became a specialist judge in the Matrimonial Division.
Harrington Sound Primary School has once again been crowned champions at the 2025 Primary School Track and Field Championships, held at the National Sports Centre. They secured a comfortable victory with a total of 248 points, successfully defending their title.
Saltus Grammar School finished in second place, with Warwick Academy claiming third. The prestigious Toby Colombe award for excellence was jointly awarded to two exceptional young athletes, Gisele Reid-Rubaine and Aalirah Daniels, both of whom collected an impressive four gold medals apiece.
The championships showcased a wealth of promising young talent from across Bermuda’s primary schools. Harrington Sound’s overall victory, alongside the individual brilliance displayed by many athletes, points to a bright future for athletics on the island.
Hamilton Harbour played host to a thrilling night of sailing as the Wednesday Night Series reached Race Day 5, attracting its largest fleet of the year. The inshore course, starting and finishing within the harbour, demanded tactical nous as much as boat speed.
While Crossfire was first across the line, their handicap placed them fifth overall. Nasty Medicine, second to finish, ended up in 14th after correction.
The victor of the night was Renegade, whose corrected time of 59 minutes and 21 seconds secured the win. Just eight seconds behind was Menace, with Yabsta and Solna II rounding out the podium in a close third and fourth respectively, both clocking a corrected time of 1 hour and 15 seconds.
The race highlighted the strategic element of handicap sailing, where managing both speed and rating is key to success in the tightly contested Hamilton Harbour.
Tiffany Slaton survives blizzard and three weeks in California wilderness – her parents and local authorities call it a miracle
California authorities say they are “blown away” after 27-year-old Tiffany Slaton – a Bermudian camper missing for nearly three weeks – was found alive and well near Lake Edison in Fresno County.
The rescue came just one day before her 28th birthday.
(SCROLL DOWN for full press announcement with Ms Slaton’s parents)
Ms Slaton, a resident of Georgia, was discovered Wednesday afternoon after the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort found one of his cabins unexpectedly occupied. Aware of the ongoing search, he recognized her from media reports and immediately contacted authorities.
Tiffany’s survival is being hailed as “miraculous,” with Public Information Officer Tony Botti of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office telling reporters, “three weeks [in the mountains] – it’s unheard of. We’re blown away… it speaks to the tenacity that Tiffany has – she’s a fighter. She’s not going to give up.”
Ms Slaton endured a blizzard and harsh wilderness conditions after setting out on a solo camping trip on April 20. She had last been seen on April 24, and was officially reported missing by her Georgia-based family on April 29.
The owner of the resort where Ms Slaton was found had intentionally left a cabin unlocked for emergency situations such as this, “where someone who is lost could seek shelter and increase their chances of surviving the outdoor elements and harsh weather”.
Tiffany’s parents, Bobby and Frederina, said without this business-owners foresight, they may not be celebrating a happy ending to their story.
On her way down the mountain with rescuers, Tiffany called her father and said: “Dad, I’m alive and I’m sorry, but I’m alive.”
A massive search effort had been underway since May 6, covering nearly 600 square miles of rugged mountain terrain. Due to snow-packed roads, parts of the area were inaccessible until this week.
More interviews and updates from the Slaton family and Fresno County authorities are expected in the coming days.
Watch the full press briefing with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Tiffany’s parents below.
Bermudian squash player Taylor Carrick has made a strong start at the $9,000 Men’s Guilfoyle PSA Toronto Classic in Canada.
In his opening round match, Carrick faced Canadian Abbas Nawaz and secured a confident straight-sets victory. The Bermudian controlled the first game, winning it 11-5. The second was tighter, but Carrick held his nerve to take it 11-8. The third game proved to be a hard-fought battle, but Carrick ultimately prevailed 15-13 in a swift 30-minute encounter.
This first-round win provides a solid platform for Carrick as he progresses in the PSA Challenger Tour event in Toronto. He will be aiming to build on this momentum in his upcoming matches.
Bermudian cyclist Nicholas Narraway has achieved a career-best result in Spain’s gruelling national COPA race series. The ninth round, the prestigious Memorial Valenciaga in the Basque Country, proved incredibly challenging, with a punishing 165-kilometre course featuring seven steep mountain passes.
Of the 175 starters, only 81 managed to finish, highlighting the brutal nature of the race. Narraway, riding for Tenerife–Bike Point–La Sede, was his team’s sole finisher, crossing the line in an impressive 28th place with a time of 3 hours and 56 minutes.
Speaking after the race, Narraway acknowledged the demanding conditions and his tactical approach. His performance in such a tough event, where over half the field abandoned, underscores his growing strength and tactical awareness in the competitive Spanish cycling scene.
Michael Weeks, the National Security Minister made the urgent appeal for information in connection to violent crimes that could prevent future incidents
National Security Minister Michael Weeks made a clarion call to ‘end the madness’ of community violence that has plagued the island.
The near 15 minute long statement was made during the House of Assembly Wednesday morning/
It comes just days after the Bermuda Police Service announced a cash reward for anyone with information that could lead to the apprehension of the two suspects, who still remain at large, in connection to the Legend’s Bar mass shooting event on May 2nd.
This is not about vigilante justice, he said, but rather community strength and re-claiming peace and security.
He said, residents must stand up, speak out and save lives.
Minister Weeks further encourages parents to teach their young one to avoid the ‘no snitching’ street policy that often prevents people from sharing information with authorities.
The Minister also noting enhanced protections such as a witness protection program for those who provide valuable information to the authorities.
Police continue to ask those with relevant information on the double homicide to call them on 295-0011 or the anonymous Crime-Stoppers hotline at 800-8477.
27-year-old located near Lake Edison after nearly three weeks missing
(Images supplied by he Fresno County Sheriff’s Office)
Tiffany Slaton, a Bermudian woman from Georgia, who had been missing for more than two weeks after a solo-camping adventure, has been found safe in a remote area of California.
The 27-year-old was discovered Wednesday afternoon near Lake Edison in Fresno County, after the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort came across one of his cabins unexpectedly occupied.
“The owner was aware of an ongoing search for a missing woman and she matched the description,” the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said. “He immediately contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report his discovery.”
Deputies met the resort owner at the staging point along Kaiser Pass Road after he had driven Tiffany out to meet them. Medics were also on scene and confirmed that Ms Slaton was dehydrated, but otherwise in good condition. She was transported to a hospital for further treatment and observation.
The discovery marked the end of a large-scale search that began after Ms Slaton’s family, based in Georgia, reported her missing on April 29. She had last been in contact on April 20, after heading out on a solo camping trip in the Shaver Lake area.
“It is important to note that the road from Kaiser Pass back to Lake Edison was impassable due to the snowpack,” the Sheriff’s Office noted. “Snowplows cleared the road on Wednesday, which allowed the resort owner to access his property so he could begin preparations to open it up to the public for the summer season.”
The owner had intentionally left a cabin unlocked for emergency situations such as this. “He said he had left a cabin unlocked as a precaution for this exact situation where someone who is lost could seek shelter and increase their chances of surviving the outdoor elements and harsh weather.”
From May 6 to 10, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team conducted a full-scale operation, covering nearly 600 square miles – from Mono Hot Springs to Wishon Reservoir, Pine Flat Lake to Auberry. Despite helicopter surveillance of the Mono Hot Springs and Lake Edison areas, there were no sightings of Ms Slaton or her belongings during that time.
Detectives had previously confirmed sightings of Tiffany at Huntington Lake on April 20 and again near the old Cressman’s General Store on April 24.
Authorities are now arranging to meet with Slaton to better understand her experience and timeline of events during the weeks she was missing.
Her parents, who had remained in Georgia, were notified immediately after deputies confirmed her identity.
The country’s Parliament now must vote to approve or deny the suspension
FILE PHOTO: Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waititi (r) takes part in a march to demonstrate against the incoming government and its policies, in Wellington, New Zealand, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Lucy Craymer/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
A New Zealand government committee on Wednesday recommended three Indigenous lawmakers be temporarily suspended from parliament following the performance of a haka during the reading of a contentious bill last year.
The Privileges Committee recommended that co-leaders of Te Pati Maori, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, be suspended for 21 days, while Te Pati Maori representative Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke be suspended for seven days for acting in “a manner that could have the effect of intimidating a member of the house.”
The report found that while both haka, Maori ceremonial dance, and song are not uncommon occurrences in parliament, members were aware permission from the speaker was needed beforehand unless they were performed during their speech.
Parliament now must vote to approve the suspension. The vote is expected to pass with the support of the ruling conservative coalition.
The recommendations come after the three members and opposition Labour Party Pene Henare performed a haka ahead of a vote on a bill that would have reinterpreted a 184-year-old treaty between the British and Indigenous Maori last November.
Ngarewa-Packer is also alleged to have made a hand gesture similar to a finger gun and simulated a firing motion.
The bill has since failed to garner sufficient support to become law.
Te Pati Maori in a statement on Instagram said the proposed punishments were the strongest ever handed down by the committee.
“When Tangata whenua (Indigenous people) resist, colonial powers reach for maximum penalty. This is a warning shot to all of us to fall in line,” it said.
Judith Collins, a ruling lawmaker who heads the Privileges Committee and serves as attorney-general, said it was highly disorderly for members to interrupt a vote while it was being conducted.
“The right to cast one’s vote without impediment goes the heart of being a member of Parliament. It is not acceptable to physically approach another member on the floor of the debating chamber,” Collins told a press conference on Wednesday.
Te Pati Maori had refused to go before the Privileges Committee but did provide a written response, saying it was appropriate “to rise and haka to express anger and opposition to a subject that is abusive and denigrating.”
Henare appeared before the privileges committee earlier this year and apologised to parliament.
Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Editing by Lincoln Feast.
State courthouses have proved an attractive venue for federal immigration operations
FILE PHOTO: People walk outside Milwaukee County Courthouse, after Wisconsin county judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by U.S. officials, charging her with helping a man in her court evade immigration authorities in an escalating dispute between President Donald Trump’s administration and local officials over immigration enforcement, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Vincent Alban/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
A Wisconsin judge is set to appear in federal court on Thursday to face charges accusing her of helping a migrant evade an immigration arrest in her courtroom in a case with implications for President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.
Hannah Dugan, an elected judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, is set to enter a plea on charges accusing her of obstruction and concealing an individual wanted for arrest.
Prosecutors allege that Dugan sought to derail the planned arrest by directing federal agents away from the hallway outside of her courtroom and escorting the migrant, identified as Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, through a non-public exit.
Dugan’s legal team has said she is innocent. On Wednesday, her lawyers asked for the indictment to be tossed out, arguing that as a judge she is immune from prosecution over official actions and that the case intrudes on state authority.
“The government’s prosecution of Judge Dugan is virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional,” her lawyers wrote in a court filing.
The case came after the U.S. Justice Department under Trump vowed to investigate local officials who impede the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement.
State courthouses have proved an attractive venue for federal immigration operations, but the practice has drawn resistance from advocates over fears people living in the United States illegally will be deterred from accessing legal services.
Dugan, first elected as a judge in 2016, spent much of her career representing low-income litigants in cases involving civil rights and domestic abuse issues.
The prosecution relates to Flores-Ruiz’s planned appearance in Dugan’s courtroom on assault charges on April 18. Flores-Ruiz was set to appear for a pre-trial hearing after he was accused of striking his roommate and two others during a dispute about loud music, according to a local police report.
Flores-Ruiz had previously been deported to Mexico and federal immigration agents secured an administrative warrant to take him into custody, according to the criminal complaint against Dugan.
The complaint, citing witnesses, alleges that Dugan became angry after learning that law enforcement agents planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz outside her courtroom following the hearing.
She first directed a group of agents to an office down the hallway, where one agent spoke by phone to the chief judge. She then privately addressed the Flores-Ruiz case and waved him and his lawyer through a non-public “jury door,” according to the complaint.
The document notes that Flores-Ruiz was later spotted by law enforcement in a public hallway and that one agent followed him into an elevator. Flores-Ruiz was arrested outside the courthouse after a foot chase.
Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Mark Porter
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