After nearly two decades as an official “Observer” of Bermuda’s Court of Appeal, long-time England and Wales circuit court judge Patricia Dangor has been promoted to full member.

Government House announced the appointment of Justice Dangor and English jurist Sir Maurice Kay as Appeals Court justices.

Mrs Justice Dangor is the sister of Finance Minister ET (Bob) Richards and daughter of Bermuda’s first Premier and first black government leader, Sir Edward Richards.

Mrs Justice Dangor was the first black person appointed to the high position of Circuit Judge in the United Kingdom 14 years ago.

She was educated at Central School (now Victor Scott School, and Berkeley Institute, and was called to the Bermuda Bar in 1973.

She served as a Stipendiary Magistrate, Coroner and Registrar of the Bermuda Supreme Court. and as an observer in the Bermuda Court of Appeal since 1995.

Mrs Justice Dangor has served committees of the Bar Council of England and Wales including the Race Relations Committee and the Working Party on Entry to the Bar, and was a founding member of the Lawyers Against Apartheid, set up in opposition to the racist white minority in South Africa; and in 2011 she sat as an observer in the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Sir Maurice meanwhile is a Lord Justice of Appeal and the Vice President of the Court of Appeal in England.

A Government House spokesman said Sir Maurice has “extensive civil and commercial law experience” and has served as an advisor to the Lord Chief Justice for England of Wales.

Ms Dangor is set to take up her appointment on July 1, while Sir Maurice will take up his appointment on October 1. Both appointments will last for three years.

Governor George Fergusson, said: “I am pleased to appoint Patrice Dangor and Sir Maurice Kay to the Court of Appeal. Both have extensive experience and will be valuable additions to the Court of Appeal in Bermuda.”