It was six years ago that Hendrickson succeeded Dennis Merchant, who was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs on 11th September 2006. He has since resigned from the post and was replaced by Patrice Nisbett.
However, the DPP was not specific about her timeline for retirement but it was obvious that she intended to serve adequate advance notice that would allow for a careful talent search to fill the position which is such a crucial aspect of the dispensation of justice in the country.
In the past St. Kitts & Nevis has been known to recruit Directors of Prosecution from overseas, thus this may be an option that could be exercised, in addition to sourcing from within the jurisdiction of the federation.
From 2000 to 2003, Mrs. Hendrickson was a Crown Counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. In April 2002 and September to December 2005, she acted as Registrar and Provost Marshall and was appointed Assistant Registrar, Registrar’s Department in 2003 until her new appointment as Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mrs. Hendrickson, a former student of the Charlestown Secondary School, worked as substitute teacher from 1975 to 1979, graduated from the St. Kitts-Nevis Teachers Training College in 1981 and worked as the Teacher in Charge of the Keys Infant School from 1986 to 1989.
She was employed at the High Court Registry from 1995 to 1996 before going to study at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Barbados, in 1996 where she obtained her law degree with honours in 1998 and the Legal Education Certificate from the Council of Legal Education, Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad in 2000.
While addressing members of the legal fraternity at the opening of the new law term at the High Court in Basseterre on Tuesday 18th September, Hendrickson announced that she will be retiring following this law year.
She indicated to those present that she feels it is time for her to take her retirement, after years of service to the legal community.
One of the changes she suggested for the future consideration of the relevant authorities is for the continuous sitting of the High Court, throughout the year, to dispose of criminal matters.
It is also her wish that the prosecutors who came to the fore under during her tenure would continue to stay true to the ethics that govern this noble profession and as outlined in the legal profession Act.