Peter Shivute
Encyclopedia
Peter Sam Shivute is a Namibia
n judge. He has been the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Namibia
in Windhoek
since 1 December 2004, and he is the first black Namibian to occupy that post.
bantustan
. At the age of 16 he went into exile, continuing his secondary school education in Zambia
.
While still in Zambia he received a Diploma in Legal Studies with distinction in 1986. He left Zambia for the United Kingdom
where he obtained an LL.B
(Honors) from Trinity Hall College
, University of Cambridge
in 1991. After working in now independent Namibia for four years he returned to the UK to complete the LL.M
from University of Warwick
in 1996. Shivute further holds a Diploma in Development Studies and Management.
in the Judicial Service of the Republic of Zambia in 1987, barely 24 years old. On his return from exile he served as magistrate in the Namibian Judiciary from 1991 to 2000, as Judge, later Judge President, of the High Court
.
On 1 December 2004 he Shivute was appointed Chief Justice of Namibia
, the highest judge that heads the Supreme Court
. He is the fourth Namibian Chief Justice, succeeding Johan Strydom who retired in 2003. He further is the chairman of the Judicial Service Commission and the Board of Legal Education. In 2002, he chaired the Third Delimitation Commission of Namibia, a body that infrequently decides on the administrative division of the country.
Shivute frequently publishes on politics, human rights, and the law in Namibia. He is married to Naomi Shivute.
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 has been the 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...
of 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:...
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...
since 1 December 2004, and he is the first black Namibian to occupy that post.
Early life and education
Shivute was born in northern Namibia in the former OvambolandOvamboland
Ovamboland was the name given by English-speaking visitors to the land occupied by the Ovambo people in what is now northern Namibia and southern Angola...
bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
. At the age of 16 he went into exile, continuing his secondary school education in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
.
While still in Zambia he received a Diploma in Legal Studies with distinction in 1986. He left Zambia for the 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...
where he obtained 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...
(Honors) from Trinity Hall College
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1991. After working in now independent Namibia for four years he returned to the UK to complete the LL.M
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
in 1996. Shivute further holds a Diploma in Development Studies and Management.
Legal career
Peter Shivute was appointed magistrateMagistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
in the Judicial Service of the Republic of Zambia in 1987, barely 24 years old. On his return from exile he served as magistrate in the Namibian Judiciary from 1991 to 2000, as Judge, later Judge President, of the High Court
High Court
The term High Court usually refers to the superior court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court . In others, it is positioned lower in the hierarchy of courts The term High Court usually refers to the superior court (or supreme court) of a country or state. In some...
.
On 1 December 2004 he Shivute was appointed Chief Justice of Namibia
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...
, the highest judge that heads the 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...
. He is the fourth Namibian Chief Justice, succeeding Johan Strydom who retired in 2003. He further is the chairman of the Judicial Service Commission and the Board of Legal Education. In 2002, he chaired the Third Delimitation Commission of Namibia, a body that infrequently decides on the administrative division of the country.
Shivute frequently publishes on politics, human rights, and the law in Namibia. He is married to Naomi Shivute.