Dear Editor
The Honourable Mr Seymour Justice Panton, president of the Court of Appeal, continues to decolonise our justice system by taking the Court of Appeal, for the first time, to the people in the spirit of our Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) 2002.
I do not think it is well known that he started the process when he removed the colonial dress of judges of the Court of Appeal and replaced it with one obviously Jamaican.
Our people should confidently expect our Ladyship, the Chief Justice, to take civil matters in the Supreme Court to the people, as has been the case in criminal matters in that jurisdiction and both civil and criminal matters in the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Court. The obvious result is better service to the people and less costs to litigants as contemplated by the CPR 2002.
Civil Procedure Rules 2002 Part 2.7 provides:
Court's discretion as to where, when and how it deals with cases
1. The court may deal with a case at any place and time that it considers appropriate.
2. In considering what place or time may be appropriate the court must consider the convenience of such place or time to the parties and their attorneys-at-law and to any witnesses.
3. The court may order that any hearing be conducted in whole or in part by means of a telephone conference call, videoconference or any other form of electronic communication.
4. The court may give directions to facilitate the conduct of a hearing by the use of any electronic or digital means of communication or storage or retrieval of information, or any other technology if considers appropriate.
I think some such civil matters can be taken by judges on circuit and can be accommodated in court houses in central towns and cities until Government is able to provide other suitable accommodations.
Owen S Crosbie
Attorney/Barrister-at-Law &
former Clerk of Courts
oss@cwjamaica.com
Justice for the people
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The Honourable Mr Seymour Justice Panton, president of the Court of Appeal, continues to decolonise our justice system by taking the Court of Appeal, for the first time, to the people in the spirit of our Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) 2002.
I do not think it is well known that he started the process when he removed the colonial dress of judges of the Court of Appeal and replaced it with one obviously Jamaican.
Our people should confidently expect our Ladyship, the Chief Justice, to take civil matters in the Supreme Court to the people, as has been the case in criminal matters in that jurisdiction and both civil and criminal matters in the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Court. The obvious result is better service to the people and less costs to litigants as contemplated by the CPR 2002.
Civil Procedure Rules 2002 Part 2.7 provides:
Court's discretion as to where, when and how it deals with cases
1. The court may deal with a case at any place and time that it considers appropriate.
2. In considering what place or time may be appropriate the court must consider the convenience of such place or time to the parties and their attorneys-at-law and to any witnesses.
3. The court may order that any hearing be conducted in whole or in part by means of a telephone conference call, videoconference or any other form of electronic communication.
4. The court may give directions to facilitate the conduct of a hearing by the use of any electronic or digital means of communication or storage or retrieval of information, or any other technology if considers appropriate.
I think some such civil matters can be taken by judges on circuit and can be accommodated in court houses in central towns and cities until Government is able to provide other suitable accommodations.
Owen S Crosbie
Attorney/Barrister-at-Law &
former Clerk of Courts
oss@cwjamaica.com
Justice for the people
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