Attorney General Paula Cox yesterday revealed how infuriated she was about the process surrounding the appointment of a new Chief Justice and the “artificially contrived” panel set up by Governor Sir John Vereker.

She said the meeting in London last week during the Overseas Territories Consultative Council between the Bermudian delegation and Overseas Territories Minister Bill Rammell was “useful and constructive”.

But she added: “I must confess, if I have to be honest, that I hated the idea of having to rely on someone external making a decision about who should be Chief Justice.

“And I thought the constitution made ample scope, and having consulted with the Premier and the leader of the Opposition, you should not have the need to have an artificially contrived panel.”

She said if the Governor was aware of the pulse of Bermuda - and Britain talked of true partnership and was convinced Bermuda had good government - it was “a bit lamentable” that the decision had to go all the way to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.