// Digital Heritage
The Honourable Mr Justice
24 April 1945 — 14 August 2019
The first Mosotho to sit — and to preside — in the highest courts of four African jurisdictions.
Twenty-two years at the Bar and as an attorney, then nineteen years on the Bench: High Court Judge of Lesotho, permanent Judge of Appeal, President of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles, Justice of Appeal in Botswana, and Chief Justice of Swaziland.
// In remembrance
Justice Ramodibedi passed away on 14 August 2019. What remains is the written record: reasoning set down in open court across four jurisdictions, now preserved in a form that can be read, searched and cited by the generations of lawyers who follow him.
Preserved by Le Hantle Distributions
// Four jurisdictions
Court of Appeal of Lesotho
Judge of Appeal, then President
Elevated to the High Court in 1996 and to the Court of Appeal in April 2000. Sworn in as the first Mosotho permanent Judge of Appeal on 13 November 2002, and President of the Court from May 2008 to April 2014.
59 judgments in Volume I
Court of Appeal of Seychelles
President
Appointed President on 4 January 2004 and served to 31 March 2006 — the first Resident President of that Court.
15 judgments in Volume I
Court of Appeal of Botswana
Justice of Appeal
Appointed Justice of Appeal from 9 January 2006 to 27 July 2012.
37 judgments in Volume I
Supreme Court of Swaziland
Justice of Appeal, then Chief Justice
Justice of Appeal from 21 April 2006, Acting Chief Justice from October 2009, and Chief Justice from 25 February 2010 to 17 June 2015.
30 judgments in Volume I
// A judicial life
1945
Born on 24 April 1945 at Lesobeng in the mountain areas of Lesotho, then Maseru District and today Thaba-Tseka District.
1963–1967
A boarder at Eagle's Peak High School in Qacha's Nek District, appointed Head Prefect in his final year.
1968
Enrolled for the LLB at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, completing Part 1 in 1970.
1971–1974
Studied at Edinburgh University from October 1971, earning distinction in Legislative Drafting (Honours) and completing the LLB in April 1974.
1974
Called to the Bar in August 1974. Ten years in practice as an advocate and twelve as an attorney — twenty-two years in private practice.
1996
Appointed a Judge of the High Court of Lesotho.
1997
Chaired the Commission of Inquiry into the deaths at 'Muela, and served on the Council of State advising His Majesty the King from December 1997 to 2004.
2000
Elevated in April 2000 to the highest court in Lesotho, and appointed to the Court-Martial Appeal Court the same year.
2002
Appointed permanent Judge of Appeal on 28 October 2002 and sworn in on 13 November 2002 — the first Mosotho from Lesotho to hold the office.
2004
Served from 4 January 2004 to 31 March 2006 as the Court's first Resident President.
2006
Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of Botswana and in the Supreme Court of Swaziland.
2008
Led the Court of Appeal of Lesotho from May 2008 until April 2014.
2010
Sworn in as Chief Justice on 4 March 2010, serving until 17 June 2015. Conferred with an Award of Excellence by His Majesty King Mswati III on 19 April 2013.
// The digital archive
Volume I — Le Hantle Digital Edition
A single, searchable volume gathering judgments delivered across four jurisdictions: the Court of Appeal of Lesotho, the Court of Appeal of Botswana, the Supreme Court of Swaziland and the Court of Appeal of Seychelles.
// Photographs & tributes
This part of the archive is filled only with material the family and colleagues choose to share. Until then the space stays deliberately empty — nothing here is stock imagery or invented remembrance.
Family members, colleagues and members of the Bar are invited to share photographs, recollections and documents for preservation.