54 JPs Trained as Lay Magistrates

Fifty-four (54) Justices of the Peace (JPs) from various parishes have completed specialised training to serve in the Lay Magistrates Courts.

The training, conducted by the Justice Training Institute (JTI), covered areas such as judicial conduct, ethics, court procedures, evidence, and sentencing.

The aim is to strengthen the capacity of the courts to handle cases more efficiently and reduce backlog.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the Summit in New Kingston on Thursday (March 26), State Minister in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marisa Dalrymple-

Philibert, congratulated the JPs, who are from the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, Trelawny and Hanover.

“Today, you step forward better equipped than you were the day before. Let me be clear – Lay Magistrates are not just simply supporting actors in the justice system; You are critical pillars of our justice system,” she said.

“You have to ease the burden of our formal courts, to bring justice closer to our communities, and to ensure that matters are handled efficiently, fairly and with respect for the process,” Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert added.

She told them, further, that their role as JP “strengthens public confidence and reinforces the very foundation of justice in our country”.

“The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs through the Justice Training Institute (JTI) made a deliberate and strategic push to build your capacity… in specialised targeted areas,” she noted.

Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert informed that during fiscal year 2025/2026, a total of 1,185 JPs across the island benefited from enhanced training programmes, which will lead them to the Lay Magistrates’ Courts.