A senior British lawyer has been assigned as the judge for the criminal case against Ewart Brown, the former premier.

Puisne Judge Shade Subair-Williams told the Supreme Court that Martin Forde, QC, had been appointed to hear the case.

Mr Forde was previously appointed by the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to undertake an independent investigation into the circumstances and contents of a leaked report into antisemitism within the party.

He also served as an independent adviser to the Windrush Compensation Scheme between 2018 and 2021, intended to benefit those who emigrated to Britain from Commonwealth Caribbean islands, only for many to be illegally detained, deported and denied legal rights by measures intended to crack down on illegal immigration.

Mr Forde also previously acted for the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council.

Mr Forde has been a Recorder of the Crown Court since 2009, meaning he has presided over the equivalent of Bermuda Supreme Court trials as a judge.

Dr Brown faces 13 charges, including five related to agreements with the Lahey Clinic, through which he allegedly received $4.01 million in monthly payments between 2001 and 2010.

The remaining eight charges related to allegations of corruptly obtaining $350,500 in donations to benefit the Progressive Labour Party and the Bermuda Health Foundation between 2007 and 2010.

He has not yet been required to enter a plea.

Dr Brown, meanwhile, has launched a civil court matter against the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney-General and the Deputy Governor.

Mrs Justice Subair-Williams had been set to hear both matters, but announced in a ruling in March that she would step away from the cases.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.