The Constitutional Crocodile

The Constitutional Crocodile turns a “cartoon law book” series from a quartet into a set of five. Fuller than any of its predecessors. it cites: 13 constitutional, international and transnational instruments; 13 statutes; 118 cases; 92 books; and 31 articles and reports. It depicts 113 kinds of animal. The book also includes a painting as well as accompanying text by Justice Bokhary’s eldest grandson. Justice Bokhary and his grandson feel that ideas — whether amounting to a mountain or merely a molehill — are worth offering if offered humbly and respectfully as are their ideas here.

In this fascinating volume, Mr Justice Kemal Bokhary turns his attention to matters relating to Constitutions. The genial and insightful judge, along with his fabulous Croc, glides effortlessly through the constitutional waters of diverse jurisdictions, mapping out their contours and plumbing their depths for the enlightenment and amusement of lay and law-literate readers alike. He and Croc are ably assisted in this endeavour by a myriad of other animals whose valuable legal opinions are engagingly and colourfully sketched out, as well as by members of the learned judge’s family, whose voices give the text a wonderfully personal touch.

About the Author

Mr Justice Bokhary became a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in 2012.

He  was born in Hong Kong in 1947. He received his legal education in London and became a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 1967. He was called to the English Bar in 1970 and the Hong Kong Bar in 1971. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983.

Mr Justice Bokhary joined the Hong Kong Judiciary as a Judge of the High Court in 1989. He was appointed a Justice of Appeal in 1993. From 1997 to 2012, he served as a Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal. Since retirement as a Permanent Judge, he has published Recollections, The Law is a Crocodile and Crocodile-at-Law, reflecting upon his career in the law.

Mr Justice Bokhary was made an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple in 2001. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa by the University of Hong Kong in 2012.

Mr Justice Bokhary is an Honorary Life Member of the Hong Kong Bar Association. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2012.