were sworn in a ceremony yesterday at Government House.

Governor Thorold Masefield swore in Charles-Etta Simmons and Archibald Warner as Puisne Judges for temporary terms which will run until the end of July.

This is the second Supreme Court appointment for Ms Simmons, who normally serves as Supreme Court Registrar.

In 1999, Ms Simmons became the second Bermuda-born woman to preside over the country's Supreme Court. At that time, Ms Simmons was appointed for a temporary term of one year.

The only other Bermuda-born woman to act as a Puisne Judge was Patricia Dangor who filled in occasionally in Supreme Court before relocating to the United Kingdom.

Ms Simmons is a graduate of Buckingham University.

This is the first Supreme Court appointment for Mr. Warner who normally serves as Senior Magistrate in Magistrates' Court.

Prior to taking up his position on the bench, Mr. Warner was one of the Island's top defence lawyers with a partnership in the firm that later became Juris Law Chambers.

Mr. Warner is originally from Barbados and was called to the bar in 1984.

Chief Justice Austin Ward appointed the two temporary Puisne Judges to address a backlog of criminal cases in Supreme Court.

Last fall, both Mr. Ward and Bar Association president Richard Hector spoke out on the need for more bodies on the bench due to concerns over lengthy trial delays in Supreme Court.

In addition to Ms Simmons and Mr. Warner, there are three permanent, full-time Puisne Judges currently serving -- Chief Justice Ward, Justice Norma Wade-Miller and Justice Vincent Meerabux.