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Senior Resident Magistrate Vivene Harris was on April 10 sworn in as puisne judge in the Supreme Court at a ceremony held at King’s House. The appointment comes as government continues to put measures in place to improve access to justice for Jamaicans and to advance clearing up of the backlog of cases in the island’s courts. In accepting her...

Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla, says progress is being made in the justice system to clear the backlog of cases, but this is not being properly reported in the media, as oftentimes the figures quoted are not up to date. Speaking at the swearing in ceremony of Mrs. Vivene Harris as a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, at King’s...

Claimants awaiting awards in court cases over lengthy periods will soon be able to benefit from interim payments from defendants. This is being made possible through the drafting of legislation, which will give Supreme Court judges the authority to make Orders for interim payments in such circumstances as specified by the court.  Announcing that Cabinet had issued drafting instructions, Minister...

The late Hon. Carl Rattray, O.J., former attorney, judge, and parliamentarian, has been hailed as a “celebrated Caribbean legal mind” and “a remarkable son of Jamaica."  He is considered by many, a heroic figure who made a significant contribution to Jamaica, through his constant and dedicated pursuit of justice.    Undoubtedly, he has left an indelible mark on the local...

The Ministry of Justice and the Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO) International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to enable the establishment of the Children in Court  -  Court Prep Programme. Modeled off the Canadian ‘Kids-in-Court’ project, the initiative is aimed at improving the capacity of the justice system and justice system workers to provide adequate and child sensitive...

Minister of Justice, Senator Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that the Government is reviewing the Public Sector Master Rationalisation Plan. “The Cabinet has been briefed by a team from the Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU) and the Government is reviewing the (plan),” Senator Golding said. The Minister was responding to questions posed by Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Arthur Williams,...

The Ministry of Justice, received Children in Court- Court Prep Resource Kits from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday March 8, which are geared towards teaching children about the court environment. The unique Resource Kits include a model Court house and therapeutic play materials. Speaking at the handing over ceremony, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kingston, Portfolio Minister,...

Jamaica is in its 50th year of independence and activities have been planned locally and at diplomatic missions across the world to celebrate the country’s Golden Jubilee throughout the year. In the close to 50 years since independence, the country has made several strides in a number of areas including the justice system. The structure of the Jamaican justice system...

The Government is exploring the option of having more night court sessions in an effort to reduce the backlog of cases before the judiciary. Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, made the disclosure on February 29 at the weekly Jamaica House press briefing. She informed that Cabinet, at its meeting this week, was advised of the...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that the Government is compiling a "realistic" legislative programme for the remainder of the 2011/12 fiscal year, as well as the 2012/13 financial year. In a statement in the Senate, on February 24, Mr. Golding said that Bills which were tabled by the last Government, but not passed, and Bills...

The long awaited Municipal Court system to deal with parochial matters, will be introduced across the island soon. According to Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, the move to establish municipal courts, although being part of the Local Government process, is being done under a wider Justice Reform Programme, to establish specialised courts. “The Ministry has...

The Government has begun initial discussions regarding Jamaica’s transition to republican status. Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Sandrea Falconer, made the disclosure on February 15 Jamaica House press briefing. She said the talks are being led by the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Department, spearheaded by a Ministerial Committee, which is to make recommendations to Cabinet before...