Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
National Honour Awardee, Justice Paul Harrison. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
This is the final in the series of profiles on some of the recipients of national honours and awards. Today they will proudly receive their medals from Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke at Kings House.
THE JAMAICAN saying goes: "While man a plan, God a wipe out." It means that while you are mapping out your life, God just might have a different path for you. Many persons, despite careful planning for their future careers, often fall into other disciplines. Justice Paul Theodore Harrison never intended to practise law - it was all by happenstance.
The now 68-year-old judge, who presides on the bench of the Court of Appeal, the highest appellate court in Jamaica, aspired to study medicine while at Excelsior High School. "After I left school I enrolled in St. George's extension classes to do the science subjects, since they weren't offered at Excelsior; but I had also applied to the public service. I got accepted to the public service and was assigned to the Resident Magistrate's court where I was sent to work in St. Ann. As such I was unable to attend any classes", he said. So, he worked as a clerk and from there on, his interest in law grew as he spent more time in the Courts observing the attorneys in action. Following through with his interest, he went on study leave to England where he was trained at Lincoln's Inn in London as a barrister-at-law; and so began the story of Justice Paul Harrison.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Upon his return to Jamaica in 1969, Justice Harrison took up a position as a clerk; and not long after, began working as a crown prosecutor until 1974 where he was appointed to the Resident Magistrate's Court. He presided there for 11 years until he was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench in 1985. After spending some 12 years on the Supreme Court bench, in 1997 Justice Harrison was appointed to the position he now holds on the bench of the Court of Appeals.
Considering the nature of his job one might think that he hardly has much leisure time, but Justice Harrison somehow manages to strike that delicate balance between work and play.
"As far as the hours are concerned, a lot of work is really done at home after court. I do lose a lot of sleep." Once outside of the courtroom, Justice Harrison's demeanour can be described in the saying, "as serious as a judge." In between laughs he described some of the activities with which he enjoys himself: " I used to play tennis, but I recently had surgery on my hand so I don't play anymore. I enjoy the occasional game of dominoes with the fellows, or the occasional movie, though not the stressful ones like horror films. In my free time I try to eliminate stress as much as possible."
Justice Harrison is also a cricket fan and particularly enjoys watching test matches. He even travels to Barbados annually to see the West Indies team play. This is testimony to the fact that there is much more to the man than what one may see in the courtroom. He is also a husband, being married for 44 years, and a father of two adult children, male and female. His daughter works as a psychologist and his son has somewhat followed in his father's footsteps, as a Crown counsel in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecution.
The Government of Jamaica has selected Justice Harrison to receive the Order of Distinction, at this year's National Honours and Awards. "It feels good to know that I'm being honoured by my country for the work that I am involved in and it is something that I accept graciously", he says. After dedicating 31 years to the bench, Justice Harrison is now at the pinnacle of his career, and he remarks that he is quite happy with where he is. "I will retire at age 70, but for now I am comfortable."
