Opposition Senator Suggests Using Retired Judges to Clear Backlog

Opposition Senator, Robert Montague, is recommending that the Government utilise the expertise of retired judges and lawyers to clear the backlog of cases in the courts.

“They can firstly review some of the case files and close some and move swiftly to trial with the others,” he argued.

Senator Montague, who was making his contribution to the State of the Nation debate in the Senate on February 21, also called for more stenographers to be placed in the courts.

“Its full time we free up our RM (Resident Magistrate’s) courts from taking notes in longhand. That day has long passed. Put more stenographers in the High Court and ensure that every High Court judge has a secretary. This move will allow judgment to be published more quickly. Some of our civil servants… can be transferred to the courts,” Mr. Montague said.

He also suggested that the Government look at establishing permanent sessions of the Appeal Court in the western section of the island.

In 2013, there was the historic sitting of the Court of Appeal in the town of Lucea, Hanover during the week of December 9 to 13. It was the first time in the 51 year existence of the court that it was holding a session outside of Kingston.

Judicial and legal professionals hailed the move as a major development in the dispensation of justice and efforts to bring justice to the people where they reside.