Jai Ram Reddy was born on 12 May 1937 in Lautoka, Fiji. He completed a Bar-at-Law from the University of New Zealand, Wellington 1956-1960. Reddy entered politics in the 1970s as leader of the National Federation Party (NFP) and leader of the Opposition. His political appointments included Leader of the Opposition’s nominee in the Senate 1972-1976; Member of the House of Representatives April 1977; Leader of the Opposition 1977-1984; Attorney General and Minister of Justice April-May 1987; Member, Falvey Constitution Review Committee July 1987; NFP-FLP nominee to the Deuba Accord Committee September 1987; Member of the House of Representatives 1992; Leader of NFP and Leader of the Opposition 1992–1999; Member, Joint Parl. Select Committee on Constitution Review (1995-1997). He was a co-principal architect of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji, and a supporter of reconciliation in post-1987 Fiji. Reddy was defeated in the 1999 general elections and departed from politics in the same year. He then took up the position of President, Fiji Court of Appeal (March-August 2000; January 2002-April 2003) and Permanent Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 2003-2008.