was yesterday appointed as Chief Justice.

Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward replaces one of his oldest friends and colleagues, the Hon. Sir James Astwood who turned 70 earlier this month and by law had to retire.

Sir James was Bermuda's first black and longest-serving Chief Justice of this century.

And while his successor was born in Barbados, they shared a similar career path in Bermuda.

At Sir James' retirement dinner last month at the Southampton Princess, Mr.

Austin Ward recalled that he was a magistrate in 1974 when he first met the former Chief Justice who returned from Jamaica that year.

In 1976 when Sir James was Solicitor General, Mr. Ward became Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Sir James later became a Supreme Court judge while Mr. Ward served as the Registrar of Companies for one year and then moved on to become Solicitor General from 1980 to 1985 when he was appointed a Puisne Judge.

"We were trailblazers because never before did they have two of us looking alike, working in those capacities,'' Mr. Ward told those at the dinner.

Describing Sir James as "a legal pragmatist who had no time to waste with foolish arguments'', Mr. Ward said Sir James encouraged those who worked with him to reach beyond their limited grasp.

Mr. Ward, who turns 58 next month, came to Bermuda in 1969 with his wife, Francisca, and their two daughters, Rosa and Desiree. He served in private practice until 1972 when he became a magistrate.

Among his honours was the Queen's Counsel award in 1983.

He will be sworn in at a ceremony at Government House on Monday morning.

When contacted last night, Mr. Ward said he had nothing to say, only adding that he had a case on Monday so it would be back to work as usual.

But former Attorney General Mr. Saul Froomkin, who learned of his appointment from The Royal Gazette said: "I'm very pleased that they did not go outside of Bermuda to find someone.

"They have someone who has paid his dues in Bermuda.

"I'm very pleased for Justice Ward. I hope he will fill the post with the competence that is expected of him.'' President of the Bermuda Bar Association, Mr. John Cooper, said while he could not speak for 180 lawyers and members of the Bar Council on the matter, he was very pleased with the appointment.

"I've been practising for 20 years,'' Mr. Cooper said. "I've known Austin, sitting on Magistrates' Court bench and in the Supreme Court, for most of those years. I'm very pleased that he's been given the job and I look forward to him being Chief Justice for many years.'' One of Bermuda's most senior barristers, Mr. Arnold Francis said: "It is a good appointment. Mr. Ward used to work for me when he first came to Bermuda.

"He is a capable lawyer. He has now had good judicial experience in Bermuda and I would think that he will be a very competent Chief Justice and should serve Bermuda well.'' Neither Sir James nor Attorney General Mr. Walter Maddocks, who was earlier tipped for the post, could be reached for comment. PHOTO The Hon. Mr. Justice Ward.*l