Three More Court Of Appeal Judges to Be Appointed

The Ministry of Justice is to add three more judges to the cohort serving the Court of Appeal, which will move the number of judges to 10.

This will increase from two to three, the panel of judges that sit and hear appeals.

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, made the disclosure at a contract signing ceremony for the procurement and implementation of a high density filing system at the Supreme Court’s Registry, held recently at his Oxford Road offices.

The Justice Minister explained that the delay in increasing the number of judges was due to a lack of space, as the building that houses the Court of Appeal is also occupied by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP) and the Accountant General’s Department (AGD).

He noted, however, that the owners and redevelopers of the Oceana Hotel in downtown Kingston have made arrangement to accommodate the AGD, which will free up space to increase for more judges.

“We are very hopeful that, that will indeed be the case and that we will see the Accountant General’s Department being able to give up the space that they now occupy so that we can proceed with the refitting of that part of the building opposite the Supreme Court on King Street and proceed to appoint the additional judges to enable …three panels,” he stated.

He noted that currently, the Court of Appeal judges are under immense pressure and do need the benefit of the additional appointments.