Lawyer: It’s scandalous

Ayers-Caesar was presiding over the private complaint which began on January 20, 2014.

On March 24, Ayers-Caesar ruled that she was satisfied that sufficient evidence was presented to have a sentence imposed on Bakr for failing to appear before the commission of inquiry in 2013.

She adjourned the opening of Bakr’s defence to April 14, when lawyers representing the Muslimeen’s leader sought an adjournment to await a response from the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard,SC, on their call for him (Gaspard) to intervene and discontinue the private complaint.

Ayers-Caesar granted the adjournment to yesterday’s date (April 19), however, she was sworn in as a High Court judge on April 12.

Hearing of the private complaint came up in the Eight Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Deputy Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle, who adjourned the matter to May 17 for her to receive instructions.

She did not indicate from whom she is expected to receive instructions but told lawyers she had before her a list of all the partheard matters.

In a statement yesterday, the Judiciary’s Court Protocol and Information Manager Alicia Carter-Fisher assured that the magistrates’ court would not be adversely affected by the elevation of the former chief magistrate.

The statement also noted that Deputy Chief Magistrate Busby Earle-Caddle will act in the post of chief magistrate until an appointment is made by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC).