The Gist
The Hadeed case is a landmark Trinidad and Tobago legal matter — opened on June 24, 2026 — in which the State has retained two elite UK King's Counsel, Sir James Eadie KC and Robert Stephen Strang KC, and obtained their limited admission to practise in High Court matter CV 2026-02618 specifically to defend the legality of Preventive Detention Orders issued against prominent businessman Dominic Hadeed, his wife Genevieve, and her 69-year-old aunt Star Sabga under the Emergency Powers Regulations, 2026.
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What Happened
On June 30, 2026, two Legal Notices — Nos. 492 and 493 — were published in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette, formally granting limited admission to practise law in the twin-island republic to Sir James Raymond Eadie KC and Robert Stephen Strang KC, both members of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
Attorney General John Jeremie signed the Legal Profession (Eligibility for Admission) (No. 9) Order, 2026 and (No. 10) Order, 2026 under Section 15A of the Legal Profession Act, following consultation with the Chief Justice.
The two King's Counsel — retained by the State, not the Hadeeds — are restricted to appearing in High Court matter CV 2026-02618, Dominic Hadeed and Genevieve Hadeed v The Commissioner of Police, and any related proceedings. The State's legal team, briefed by the Attorney General, comprises Eadie, Strang, and Gerald Ramdeen, chairman of the National Gas Company.
Sir James, who has practised at the English and Welsh Bar since July 1984, is widely regarded as the UK Government's foremost public law advocate. Strang, called to the Bar in November 2003, brings direct Caribbean pedigree — he has appeared in numerous Privy Council appeals from the region and successfully represented former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in a landmark Tobago land dispute before the Privy Council.
Their admission follows Justice Frank Seepersad's dismissal of the Hadeeds' application to be released pending judicial review of the Preventive Detention Orders issued against them under the Emergency Powers Regulations, 2026.
• Legal Notices Nos. 492 and 493 published in the Gazette on June 30, 2026 • AG John Jeremie signed both admission orders under Section 15A of the Legal Profession Act after consultation with the Chief Justice • Both KCs are members of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple • Admission is limited strictly to CV 2026-02618 and related proceedings • The State's legal team comprises Eadie, Strang and Gerald Ramdeen (NGC chairman) • Sir James Eadie KC has practised at the Bar of England and Wales since July 1984 • Robert Strang KC was called to the Bar in November 2003 • Strang previously represented former PM Dr Keith Rowley before the Privy Council • The KCs were retained to represent the State, not the Hadeeds • Justice Frank Seepersad dismissed the Hadeeds' application for release pending judicial review
UPDATE: State Hires UK Barristers in Hadeed Case – By The Numbers
Number of **Preventive Detention Orders** issued under the Emergency Powers Regulations, 2026 against businessman Dominic Hadeed, his wife Genevieve, and her 69‑year‑old aunt Star Sabga in the landmark High Court matter CV 2026‑02618.
The State of Trinidad and Tobago has retained **two UK King’s Counsel** – Sir James Raymond Eadie KC and Robert Stephen Strang KC – to defend the legality of the preventive detention orders in CV 2026‑02618.
On **30 June 2026**, the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette published **two Legal Notices (Nos. 492 and 493)** formally granting limited admission to practise law in Trinidad and Tobago to Sir James Eadie KC and Robert Stephen Strang KC, restricted to matter CV 2026‑02618 and related proceedings.
The Attorney General signed the **Legal Profession (Eligibility for Admission) (No. 9) and (No. 10) Orders, 2026** under **Section 15A of the Legal Profession Act**, after consultation with the Chief Justice, to enable the special admission of the UK barristers for this single High Court matter.
The State’s core legal team in the Hadeed matter comprises **four named figures**: Attorney General John Jeremie (briefing), Sir James Eadie KC, Robert Stephen Strang KC, and National Gas Company chairman Gerald Ramdeen, who is serving as instructing counsel.
One of the three persons subject to preventive detention orders, **Star Sabga**, is **69 years old**, underscoring the reach of Emergency Powers Regulations, 2026 beyond typical high‑risk demographics and highlighting human‑rights concerns in the application of preventive detention.
The State’s decision to retain two UK King’s Counsel and use Section 15A orders for their limited admission indicates an unusually high‑stakes constitutional and human‑rights challenge, rare for a single High Court matter.
Three preventive detention orders issued under Emergency Powers Regulations, 2026 against a businessman, his spouse, and a 69‑year‑old relative show the wide discretionary reach of emergency powers and raise questions about proportionality of State responses.
The formation of a four‑person State legal team including the Attorney General, two foreign KCs, and a major state‑enterprise chairman suggests significant political, economic, and reputational implications beyond the individual detainees, likely impacting investor confidence and business sentiment.
The Impact
The State's decision to retain two of the UK Bar's most distinguished public law silks signals that the Government regards this case as a high-stakes constitutional battle that could define the limits of emergency detention powers in Trinidad and Tobago.
Sir James Eadie KC has appeared in landmark UK Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights cases spanning terrorism, citizenship and state security.
Robert Strang brings deep familiarity with Caribbean constitutional law, having appeared in numerous Privy Council appeals from the region. Their combined firepower signals that the State anticipates protracted, technically complex litigation over the legality of the PDOs.
"Sir James Eadie KC has been ranked the top barrister at the Bar since 2015 by volume of court appearances, undertaking twice the share of court work of any other ranked barristers, according to The Lawyer's Litigation Tracker."
— The Lawyer's Litigation Tracker analysis, as cited in Sir James Eadie KC's professional profile
The Pulse
So T&T hasn’t produced any lawyers capable of representing the state in this matter? There’s no money to pay regular workers, but there’s Pound Sterling to pay foreign lawyers? Am I missing something? - Nicole Thomas on Facebook
The Privy has the last say like Kartel - Damion Brown on Facebook
The State must protect de citizens always - Sam Mounir on Facebook
Perspectives
State: Rule of law applies equally, detention is lawful: The Government maintains that the PDOs are grounded in credible intelligence assessments reviewed through multiple legal channels before receiving ministerial approval. Minister Alexander has rejected suggestions that the detention orders are politically motivated, and the AG's office has framed the engagement of top UK counsel as appropriate to the gravity and complexity of the constitutional issues at stake.
Hadeeds' legal team: Detention is unlawful and conditions inhumane: The Hadeeds' attorneys argue they were arrested on ordinary search warrants, not under emergency regulations, and that the subsequent invocation of the Emergency Powers Regulations to extend their detention is legally baseless. Their affidavit alleges degrading conditions including cells with cockroaches, no bedding, a hole-in-floor toilet, and denial of medical equipment including a CPAP machine for Dominic Hadeed.
Economists and public: Concern about precedent and political optics: Economic observers broadly agree a single investigation is unlikely to severely damage Trinidad and Tobago's international investor reputation, but warn that reputational risk within the local business community is real. Public sentiment is sharply divided, with some calling for the legal process to run its course and others questioning whether the timing of the arrests reflects genuine rule-of-law concerns or political targeting.
"Coming so soon after John Jeremie's comments in Parliament, it's not clear whether it was being vindictive or whether it is motivated by the rule of law."
— Mariano Browne, Economist and former Minister in the Ministry of Finance, via Trinidad Guardian
C360 View
The decision to fly in two of the United Kingdom's most decorated public law silks to defend preventive detention orders against citizens who have not been charged with any crime raises questions that cannot be dismissed as routine legal procedure.
Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed have been held at Golden Grove Prison since June 24, alongside Genevieve's aunt Star Sabga. No charges have been laid. The Preventive Detention Orders allege a conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister. Justice Frank Seepersad has already rejected their application for release pending judicial review.
Now the State has retained Sir James Eadie KC — the UK Government's own foremost public law advocate, practising since 1984 — and Robert Strang KC, who has appeared in numerous Privy Council appeals from the Caribbean. Both were admitted to practise in Trinidad by the Attorney General on June 30. They represent the State, not the Hadeeds.
If the assassination-plot allegations are genuine and credible, the Government has not only the right but the duty to act. But that duty must be exercised lawfully, transparently and humanely. The reported conditions in which the Hadeeds were first held fall far short of any standard this region should accept.
But here is the question every Trinidadian taxpayer should be asking: why does the government of Trinidad and Tobago not trust its own lawyers to argue its case? What does it cost to fly in silks of this calibre from London? And is this the best use of public money in a country currently battling an escalating crime crisis?
Sir James Eadie's engagement tells you everything about how seriously the State is treating this case. The courts must now match that seriousness.
The entire Caribbean is watching whether emergency powers will be found to have been applied with rigour and legality — or as a blunt instrument against the wealthy and prominent. The rule of law demands an answer.
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