Chief Justice reports significant reduction in court backlog

 

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes says the modernisation of Jamaica's courts system, which began in 2019, is now bearing positive results with a significant reduction in the backlog of cases clogging the court system.

 

Speaking Wednesday at the swearing-in ceremony for several judicial officers at King's House, Chief Justice Sykes disclosed that his administration has been able to reduce the case load in the island's parish courts.

 

"So at the end of 2023, the net backlog in the parish court is under 2.5 per cent. And that's a very significant development bearing in mind that the international standard is between 2.5 per cent or up to 5 per cent, but we're actually down to under 2.5 per cent. And there are not many courts in the region at any level that has achieved that level of efficiency," he boasted. 

 

He said 90 per cent of the country's criminal cases are heard by the parish courts.

 

As part of the strategy reduce the case load, Justice Sykes warned that over the coming months, more arrest warrants will be issued for individuals who have failed to attend court for their cases.

 

"Now, the net backlog is at 16 per cent. It should be under 10 per cent, but a significant portion of that has to do with unexecuted bench warrants. And so that is something we'll be paying attention to in the second strategic planning period, the launch of which I'm happy to tell you is April 10, 2024," he said. 

 

He added that the plan will run from 2024 to 2028.