Hans Joachim Berker
Encyclopedia
Hans Joachim Berker was a Namibia
n judge. He served as first Chief Justice
in the Supreme Court of Namibia
from 1990 to 1992.
, Germany
. His family moved to South-West Africa in 1928, and Berker attended school in Windhoek
. He obtained a B.A.
from Rhodes University
in Grahamstown
, South Africa
, and later an LL.B
from Oxford University, United Kingdom
.
Berker became president of the High Court in Windhoek on 1 March 1983. He later served as Judge President of the Supreme Court of South-West Africa. On 21 March 1989, the day of Namibian independence, he was appointed Chief Justice
at the newly founded Supreme Court
of Namibia. After his death he was succeeded by Ismael Mahomed.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n judge. He served as first Chief Justice
Chief Justice of Namibia
The Chief Justice of Namibia is the head of the Supreme Court of Namibia, the highest appellate court in Namibia. It is the highest post in the Namibia's judicial system, presiding over the operation of the supreme court...
in the Supreme Court of Namibia
Supreme Court of Namibia
The Supreme Court of Namibia is the supreme court in all matters under Namibian law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the country. It is located in the centre of the capital Windhoek.-History:...
from 1990 to 1992.
Biography
Berker was born on 28 March 1924 in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. His family moved to South-West Africa in 1928, and Berker attended school in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. He obtained a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Rhodes University
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and later an LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Oxford University, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Berker became president of the High Court in Windhoek on 1 March 1983. He later served as Judge President of the Supreme Court of South-West Africa. On 21 March 1989, the day of Namibian independence, he was appointed Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
at the newly founded Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
of Namibia. After his death he was succeeded by Ismael Mahomed.