Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Sir Hugh Rawlins has raised concerns over what he said is the slow pace in which judgments are delivered in the courts.
Rawlins told a special sitting of the high court to commence the new law year on Tuesday that some judges must show improvements over outstanding judgments.
“The judges of our courts are carrying the burden in adverse circumstances,” he said. “The vast majority of our judges still manage to remain current in the delivery of judgments, even through illness which is often bought by the stress of the workload, deprivation of family and social life.”
He said however there are some instances in which judgment are delayed.
“It is not acceptable that judgments should be delayed in our court system. The Privy Council has said that in various cases. You may well recall the case that when to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in recent times in which the combined time for delivery of the judgment was over 8 years. This occasioned the CCJ to state that a judgment should be delivered within certain time frames barring exterminating circumstances,” he said.
Sir Rawlins also said the court is affected when judges do not give reasons for their decisions.
“There are instances in which persons who are affected by decisions of magistrates are unable to peruse appeals because reasons for decisions are not produced. This is all unacceptable. While I put on record my appreciation for the work of judges for their constituency in this their labour of love, it is incumbent upon me to call upon those who are inconsistent to follow. Let us rededicate ourselves to our task, in keeping with our oaths. It is not enough to say that it has always been like that or it is the norm in most other jurisdictions,” he said.
what do we expect to hear.. same old story..we eh going no where..30yrs behind..
just dont believe in any court system around here..its just a scam but again it shows that we are terrible weak in our mind set and extremely personal in all our aspects of justice…
we just arent matured enough to show a higger level of understand in these third world islands period..small places with citizens with small thinking..
So Mr Weeks was not wrong after all? Will Mr Skerrit ask the learned judge to explain his comments too? This is very interesting!!
Until I see justice flowing like a mighty river in our legal system I’ll remain skeptical.
DNO ADMIN, is it possible to get a full transcript of the Chief Justice’s address? I need to digest it.
ADMIN: Check the Caribbean Supreme Court’s website.
Magistrates need to take notice of this, too. Cases have been in court for years. I know of a simple noise nuisance case that has been postponed 7 times in the past 4 1/2 years because the defendents don’t show up and then bench warrants are issued and never acted on by the baliffs. It makes for a society where people feel they can do anything they please because there are no consquences.
The judge just stop short of mentioning the word corruption. The judge also avoided the idiom – Justice delayed is justice denied”
The judge however mentioned about the judges withholding the premise(s) upon which they deliberate. Does that ring a bell.
Mr Judge I prefer not hold my breath – the system is corrupt and the judiciary bodies must act to clean up the system- impose and enforce ethical conduct among legal practitioners particularly those who play double agents parading as honorable lawyers and senior counsel yet their hands and faces are covered with the fesses of dirty politicians. A system should be set in place to deal with lawyers who sabotage the course of justice just to ultimately protect crooked politicians and other lawyer friends.
Mr judge I know that you aware of the behavior of you colleagues- if my simple mind can make those conclusions based on simple events and facts I wonder why it is that those with the legal training refuse to honor their oath of honor and integrity.
I BACK YOU 100% JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED. AND JUCTICE THOM MUST GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR HER LAST RULING, THE PEOPLE OF DOMINICA DESERVES AN EXPLANATION.
She has no account to give. she justified her decision, her decision was also supported by previous similar matters in which the lead attorney for the pettioners, was involved…Further more if the legal system is currently corrupt, we must pay close attention to the words of the learned Chief Justice quote.. “It is not enough to say that it has always been like that or it is the norm in most other jurisdictions,” he said”. I can easily recall matters that took years for a decision to be handed prior to 2000.
Thank God! There’s still a sense of hope and reasoning that is yet to be heard particularly in Dominica. Our judicial system is one that lacks credibility, fairness and justice for all. It has gone to the dogs.
Truly a “tale of two cities”. You get caught on the high seas with ganja on saturday and by the following tuesday you are sentenced and locked up at Stockfarm for two years. Yet, the learned judges cannot decide whether we have a “legally” selected person occupying the office of Prime minister for almost two years now. For the sake of the love & respect opf my country, I want to have that uncertaintiy removed , not “sine die” but forthwith also!
Very well said, mr.Rawlins.
I honestly hope Mr Skerrit will write to the Judge and ask him to give specific incidents and name the judges who are at fault in Dominica, Since this is a serious accusation on the justice system. Or was it Mr Weekes fence that was low?
Hahahahaha. Well said, Good ways