Western Cape High Court mourns death of Judge Taswell Papier

The legal community is mourning the loss of a judicial giant following the death of Western Cape High Court Judge Taswell Papier, who passed away last night.

Judge Papier’s career was defined by a deep commitment to social justice and academic excellence. After obtaining his BProc from the University of the Western Cape, he began his professional journey as a prosecutor.

Before his elevation to the bench, Papier spent nearly 30 years as an attorney. He was notably dedicated to the community of Mitchells Plain, where he spent 17 years focusing specifically on human rights legal work.

His academic credentials reflected a rigorous pursuit of expertise on a global scale. He earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights from Harvard Law School and a second LLM in Commercial Law from the University of Cape Town.

Throughout his distinguished career, Papier held several significant leadership roles. He served as the chairperson of the Cape Law Society Pro Bono Committee and as president of the University of Cape Town’s Appeals Board.

Additionally, he extended his influence into the public health sector as a director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation.

Judge Papier was formally appointed to the Western Cape Division of the High Court in 2017, where he served with distinction until his passing.