Court dents divorce backlog

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator



Chief Justice Zaila McCalla says significant improvements have been made in clearing hundreds of divorce cases from the court list.



Justice McCalla gave the update during this morning’s opening of the Michaelmas term of the Home Circuit Court.



She says approximately 1,300 cases were processed by judges during the summer break, with a majority being disposed of.



The chief justice also said the court has noted the public concern about the number of unresolved cases.



The president of the Jamaica Bar Association, Ian Wilkinson, says the Government needs to move faster to implement recommendations to make the justice system more efficient.



He has identified Justice Square as one area which needs to be immediately completed.



The Justice Square project is an initiative of the former administration to provide additional courtroom and office spaces in downtown Kingston.



Meanwhile, Senior deputy director of public prosecutions, Lisa Palmer-Hamilton says the State’s protocol for disclosure will be launched during this term.



She says the protocol will ensure greater transparency and accountability.



A Justice Enforcement Management System has also been put in place for civil and criminal cases.



The system will allow judges, lawyers and prosecutors to track the progress of cases through the court system.



More than half of the 565 cases to be tried during the new term are murder-related.



FOR MORE STORIES WATCH:

Like our new Facebook page:

Gleaner Jamaica



Follow us on Twitter:

@JamaicaGleaner



Email us at:

onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com