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Remove judiciary’s discretion
In the midst of a near-existential illegal firearm/murder crisis, it is most disheartening to hear government ministers still paying lip service to the most abused of our sacred cows: the maintenance of maximum judicial discretion throughout our criminal justice system.
Govt not bound’ to renew BPC licence
The government has full legal authority not to renew Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) oil exploration licences, a major environmental organisation has told the prime minister.
Ignore the judiciary's bail plea
JUSTICE Stephen Isaacs’ call (at the ceremony opening the legal year) for amendments to the Bail Act to return to magistrates the discretion to grant bail to violent criminal offenders should be respectfully treated for what it is: the (wrong) opinion of a spokesman for an interest group. It should not be taken as having any special legitimacy, not least as against the opinion of any other resident of a country where violent crime is far too high largely because of failures of the judiciary.
Appeal Court approves separate trials
THE decision to order separate trials for two persons accused of the same crime is in the discretion of a judge, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Lawyers criticism of Bail Act amendment ‘misdirected’ and ‘misconceived’, says PM
AFTER defence lawyers critiqued the Davis administration’s planned amendments to the Bail Act, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said some of their criticism was “misdirected” and “misconceived”.
Judge: Authority had discretion to cancel St John's prom/graduation
Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett ruled this afternoon that while contracts did exist between students of the 2013 graduating class of St Johns College and the Anglican Central Education Authority, the ACEA did have the discretion to cancel the graduation ceremony and prom.
PM: Immigration’s exercise of discretion will be reviewed
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the time has come to review how the Department of Immigration exercises discretion.
Outgoing BPC chief hits ‘spurious’ legal analysis of licence
The Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) outgoing chief executive yesterday blasted as “spurious” a legal analysis arguing that the government is not legally bound to renew the oil explorer’s licences.
Sands: If I lose bid, my Senate future will be up to Minnis
FNM Senator Dr Duane Sands clarified yesterday that his resignation from the Senate in the event of a failed deputy leadership bid at the party’s national convention would be up to the discretion of incumbent FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
No retrial in Exuma murder acquittal
THE Court of Appeal yesterday directed the acquittal of a man who was accused of robbing and killing another man in Exuma seven years ago.
Answer to our rate of murders
Please publish this follow-up to my two earlier letters, in which I pointed out the obvious and insidious connection between the levels of violence in the Bahamas today and the ineptitude of a Judiciary that continues to release violent criminals to reoffend while on bail.
Main challenge to the viability of society
EARLIER this month, a letter of mine appeared in your column wherein I suggested that Acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs’ plea for more judicial discretion on the issue of bail (specifically for Magistrates) should be regarded as merely the wrongheaded opinion of the spokesman for an interest group.
Sentence reduced for man convicted of gun possession
A MAN convicted and sentenced for firearm possession a year ago reappeared in Magistrate’s Court at the direction of a Supreme Court judge to receive a lesser sentence than the mandatory minimum of four years established in late 2011.
Man accused of owning dangerous drugs
By LAMECH JOHNSON
Not so fast - lawyers say Parliament can’t scrap bail
DEFENCE lawyers said the amendments to the Bail Act Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced in the House of Assembly yesterday in response to the soaring murder rate will not significantly change the status quo or affect Supreme Court judges’ discretion to grant people bail.
Case of sex assault on minor is delayed by a fortnight
THE case of a man accused of sexual assault of a minor over a number of years has been adjourned for another two weeks.
Drug suspects are remanded in custody
THREE men from San Salvador were remanded to the Department of Correctional Services yesterday after being accused of conspiring to supply dangerous drugs reportedly found in their possession.
Lawyers get more time for discussions in sex assault case
LAWYERS in the case of a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor for nearly two decades have been given more time to finalise ongoing discussions.
American man denied bail in tourist rape case
AN American man vacationing in paradise is now behind bars at Fox Hill prison after being denied bail yesterday in connection with a rape allegation made by another tourist.
‘Restore magistrate discretion on bail’
DISCRETION to consider bail in certain cases should be restored in the Magistrate’s Court, the country’s top judge has urged.
