Louis Jessamy de Souza Aranha (1858-1889) was an outspoken West Indian barrister who challenged judicial excesses in British Guiana (current day Guyana).
De Souza was born in Inagua, Bahamas, the son of Francis Aranha,[1][2] a businessman of Portuguese-Brazilian descent.
Outspoken, De Souza criticised several judicial decisions, with some of his remarks being published in the local papers, and called on the Secretary of State for the Colonies to appoint a Commission of Inquiry.
[11] His efforts would inspired reforms in judicial accountability and the passage of Contempt of Court Acts across the West Indies.
[6] To add insult to injury, when De Souza applied to the Court for leave to attend his wife's funeral, he was denied.