The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s second highest court yesterday debuted its near-completed fully state-of-the art facilities during a special ceremony hosted to report on its success and challenges during the previous legal year.

Justice Anita Allen’s enthusiasm of the work that was done on the third floor of the Claughton House Building follows three years of a similar ceremony in 2012 when she called on the government to provide the appellate court with “additional space”.

At that Legal Year Opening ceremony for the appellate court, Justice Allen noted that the court had “long outgrown these premises and are in need of space for the expansion of the registry, the establishment of a proper library, the expansion of judges’ chambers, the provision of a conference room for judges and indeed a larger court room for events such as this”.

Yesterday, Justice Allen expressed pride in reporting that they “were able to move into these premises in early January, resulting in the loss of some sitting days this month”.

“As you can see, the renovations of this floor are complete apart from the delivery of our furnishing. We now have two large courtrooms, which will allow us to have two panels sitting to hear appeals simultaneously once we have our full complement of judges.”

“We also have more spacious chambers and sufficient (space) to accommodate six judges,” the appellate president added.

The third floor of Claughton House formerly held the Ministry of Housing while the original appellate court was on the fourth floor. Now, the second highest court will occupy both floors as the work that began two weeks ago on the fourth floor will house “the Registrar’s chambers, the Registry, a library, and a lawyer’s lounge.”

“I trust as you look around, you will agree that the courtrooms and surrounding area are both beautiful and majestic, and lend to the crucial impression of the authority of the law,” Justice Allen said.

Justice Allen said that despite the challenges from their previous working conditions and renovations, “our impressive performance continued.”

According to the court’s annual report, 270 substantive appeals were completed between November 1, 2013 and November 30, 2014. And for that same period, 99 applications had been completed while 20 decisions and 13 reasons (for their decisions) were reserved.