Residents of Chapelton and neighbouring communities in Clarendon, now have a newly renovated Family Court, which was refurbished with funds provided by the European Union (EU) and Government of Canada. The facility, which is located at the Chapelton courthouse, was officially opened by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, and Chief Justice, Hon. Bryan Sykes, on April 5. The newly upgraded...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Government is now in a position to undertake a clinical examination of issues plaguing the Courts. Mr. Chuck made the comment after tabling the 2017 annual statistical reports for the Supreme Court and the Parish Courts in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 3. He noted that the reports will allow...

Chief Justice, Hon. Brian Sykes, is urging greater stakeholder collaboration and effort in ensuring the timely disposal of court cases, and reduction in the backlog of matters for trial. He made the call during Wednesday’s (April 4) opening of the Easter Term of the Home Circuit Court in Kingston, for which 958 cases are listed. Mr. Sykes said judges, attorneys,...

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has tabled the 2017 annual statistical reports for the Supreme Court and the Parish Courts in the House of Representatives. The reports, tabled today (April 3), provide information on the number of cases in the courts; the disposal rates; distribution of cases among the courts; disaggregation of the types of matter in the...

Three judges have been appointed to act in higher positions in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. Effective April 4, Justice Andrea Thomas and Justice Grace Henry McKenzie will serve as puisne judges in the Supreme Court, and Justice Leighton Pusey as a judge in the Court of Appeal, effective April 9. They were sworn in by Governor-General,...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Ministry has been making the necessary preparations for Justices of the Peace (JPs) to be adequately trained to preside in Lay Magistrates Courts. He said this will assist in significantly reducing the Parish Courts’ caseloads, thereby enhancing the overall judicial system’s efficiency and service delivery. The Minister was delivering the keynote address at...

The Ministry of Justice will be taking steps to bring more restorative justice centres on stream at the community and parish levels this year. This was disclosed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Carol Palmer, while addressing a recent restorative justice conference at the Spanish Court Hotel in St. Andrew. Nine restorative justice centres have been established across the island...

Executive Director of the Legal Aid Council, Hugh Faulkner, has reiterated the agency’s commitment to safeguarding citizens’ rights, particularly while enhanced security measures are being administered in some communities to curb crime. He said that as the Government implements measures to ensure public safety, the Council has a duty to play its role in preserving individuals’ fundamental rights. “In many...

Retired Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla, has welcomed the appointment of her successor, Hon. Justice Bryan Sykes. Mr. Sykes was sworn in by the Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during a brief ceremony at King’s House on Thursday (March 1). “I take pleasure in offering my heartiest congratulations to Chief Justice Sykes. It hardly needs...