Modern Court Infrastructure in Two Years – Justice Minister

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says that within the next two years, Jamaica should have a modern court infrastructure comparable to anywhere in the world.

Addressing the Jamaican Bar Association Annual Conference at the Half Moon Hotel, Rose Hall, St. James, on November 18, Mr. Chuck said the Ministry is working assiduously to install modern technological support where “ultimately, we will have a paperless court system”.

“Modernised courtrooms are priorities for the Ministry. We will have new and properly maintained elevators, air conditioners, photocopiers and computers,” the Minister pointed out.

He noted that the Government is committed to providing the necessary resources to improve the justice system, so as to protect and enforce the rule of law and to ensure timely justice outcomes.

The Minister said that significant budgetary support has already been provided to repair, rehabilitate, establish additional courtrooms and offices, and to provide support staff for judges.

Mr. Chuck pointed to the importance of having the nation’s courts performing at optimum level, adding that “the way forward must be to have our courts perform better and provide better service to our people”.

“Now is the time to introduce proper professional management processes in the courts, and the justice system as a whole; now is the time to introduce feasible specific timelines, so the system can earn the trust and confidence of the Jamaican people; and now is the time for the legal processes to be well defined and to have definite start and end points,” the Minister emphasised.

He argued that each court complex across Jamaica requires better management of the infrastructure, use of the courtrooms, maintenance of equipment, scheduling of cases, and the movement and protection of files within courts.

“The present court administrators are trying, but it is management not administration that is needed. Judges should be allowed to concentrate on adjudication and matters in the courts without being burdened with administration and management of the court complexes,” the Minister said.

Mr. Chuck said it is his view that each parish court complex should have a professional manager, who would be “fully responsible” for everything within the complex.

“The manager would work with the judges, the Court Administration Division and the Ministry of Justice to promote efficiency and the effective delivery of services within the courts,” the Minister explained.