Daly, Dumas concerned about Quinlan

In a joint statement yesterday, the two said they are deeply troubled by recent press reports of the contents of a recording of what took place at a bail hearing before Quinlan-Williams as a Magistrate in 2009, and what she is reported to have testified at disciplinary proceedings against her arising out of her conduct of that bail hearing.

“This former magistrate has very recently been appointed a High Court judge and we are absolutely satisfied that the public interest requires that the determination of the disciplinary tribunal be released so that the public can be assured of the propriety of the appointment of Mrs Quinlan-Williams to the office of High Court judge,” Daly and Dumas said.

“We are aware that the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) reportedly sent Mrs Quinlan- Williams a letter stating that she was “exonerated” nine months after the determination of the charge. We do not need to dwell on the current controversies surrounding recent judicial appointments and why, as a result, very many citizens will not accept an assurance from the JLSC as being the end of any matter,” the two said.

“In any event a separate and independent tribunal’s determination concerning the charge against Mrs Quinlan-Williams is apparently available.

The release of this tribunal’s determination has been previously refused on what appears to be a specious ground, uncaring of the public interest and the repugnancy of closed-door justice,” they added in the statement.

Both men also noted that President Anthony Carmona who presided over Quinlan-Williams’ tribunal, while as a senior high court judge, was reported to have penned his report, ‘perilously close to his elevation to President Designate.’ “Any further delay in releasing his determination runs the clear risk of bringing his office into an unseemly fray. This would be in addition to increasing the ongoing reputational damage to which recent blunderings of the JLSC have exposed the Judiciary.

“We call on the JLSC to release forthwith the tribunal’s determination of the charge and/or charges against Mrs. Quinlan-Williams along with any written reasons or report related to it,” the two demanded.