‘Judiciary needs 42 judges’

CHIEF JUSTICE Sat Sharma said yesterday that the judiciary needs a full complement of at least 42 judges for it to be totally effective in dealing with the increase in litigation. Sharma said there is need for 30 High Court judges and 12 in the Court of Appeal. At present, there are 20 High Court judges, with another two being temporary. There are seven Court of Appeal judges with two vacancies. Apart from the Chief Justice, the Court of Appeal judges are Roger Hamel-Smith, Lionel Jones, Margot Warner, Rolston Nelson, Anthony Lucky, Wendell Kangaloo and Stanley John. The Chief Justice spoke to Newsday yesterday following the piloting of a Bill in the Senate on Tuesday to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act for three additional judges to complement the new Family Court which is coming on stream shortly. Attorney General Glenda Morean-Phillip said the three additional judges will be pioneers for the new Family Court. But CJ Sharma said while this is commendable, the judiciary needs more judges. He believes that 30 in the High Court and 12 in the Court of Appeal will be adequate. “You must remember, there are now additional cases on the scene. With the kind of work load, the complexity and length of cases, the number of defendants in more than one case, the increase in criminal activity, there is a definite need for more judges,” the Chief Justice declared.

CJ Sharma said there was also need for more funding. He said he held discussions with the Attorney General on the question of more judges. He said the AG promised to take another note to Cabinet for approval for more judges. With the increase in judges, CJ Sharma said there will be need for more staff and additional equipment. “Right now, we don’t have equipment.” The Chief Justice said judges and magistrates will begin training for the proposed Family Court on July 25. He said they will be trained on aspects dealing with running such a court. Additional training, he added, will be conducted in November. The Chief Justice was pleased in the way the Magistracy was functioning. He said the magistrates were working well and every effort is being made to have their reasons out at the earliest possible time. While there is better professionalism and standard of work, the Chief Justice is still concerned at the conditions at Magistrates’ Courts.  “The Magistrates’ Court continue to be the bug bear, with the deplorable conditions of the buildings at various courts. We had had to shift hours of work so some magistrates will be able to function more effectively,” he added.