More Court of Appeal Judges to be Recruited

Jamaica News: President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Dennis Morrison, says steps are under way to recruit additional judges.

He said the increase is being facilitated by the expansion of the Court of Appeal building on King Street, downtown Kingston, which “is now at an advanced stage”.

“Hopefully, we will be in a position to move the main body of the Court’s operations into the facility before too long, with a phase two to encompass the registry, office and staff, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year,” he indicated.

Justice Morrison was speaking at a swearing-in ceremony at King’s House on September 17, where two judges were appointed to higher office.

They are Pamela Mason, who will serve as Master-in-Chambers of the Supreme Court; and Justice Leighton Pusey, who will act as Judge of the Court of Appeal.

The judges serving the Court of Appeal are charged with the responsibility of hearing appeals and applications from decisions of the Supreme Court, the Resident Magistrate’s courts, as well as those from administrative tribunals.

In April, the Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, signed an $846-million contract to undertake expansion of the Court of Appeal building, which will see the addition of three new courtrooms, 13 judges’ chambers and two lounges.

The building formerly housed the Administrator General’s Department, which has been relocated to the former Oceana Hotel building on Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston.

Jamaica received €4 million in budgetary support through the EU’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme during fiscal year 2017/18, which allowed for increased budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Justice to fund the project.

The contract was awarded to Y.P. Seaton & Associates.

Source; JIS News