Claudette Thompson has been appointed acting Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson was on Monday appointed acting DPP while the government pursues its appeal against last Friday's ruling by the Constitutional Court.
The court ruled that the amendment that granted DPP Paula Llewellyn a second tenure extension was unconstitutional and void.
Ms. Llewellyn has indicated that she is unable to carry out the functions of her office at this time, due to the ambiguity and the consequent uncertainty arising from the Constitutional Court's judgment.
This paved the way for the appointment of acting DPP Claudette Thompson.
But who is Ms. Thompson?
The acting DPP is no stranger to leadership.
The 49-year-old previously acted as Director between August 2 and September 6 in 2019.
Ms. Thompson has been serving in her substantive post as Senior Deputy Director of Prosecutions since 2018.
She became assistant Crown Counsel at the ODPP in 2007.
But before serving in that capacity, Ms. Thompson was Clerk of the Court in St. Ann in 2004.
With almost two decades of experience as a prosecutor under her belt, she had featured prominently in several high profile prosecutions including the anti-gang case which led to the conviction of leader of the One Don faction of the Clansman Gang, Andre 'Blackman' Bryan.
She also was pivotal to the recent prosecution and conviction of Uchence Wilson gangsters.
Ms. Thompson was also a key member of the team that secured the conviction of Clansman leader, Tesha Miller, for accessory after the fact to murder.
Miller was convicted in connection with the murder of former Chairman of the JUTC Douglas Chambers.
Both Miller and Bryan are serving life sentences.
Ms. Thompson also figured in the recent murder conviction of Dontae Brooks. Brooks is the incarcerated son of dancehall artiste, Mavado.
She reportedly has a range of experience in the conduct of complex prosecutions in the Parish Court, Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Her duties at the ODPP over the years included the conduct of rulings from various state entities, being head of the Roster Committee, head of the Gun Court Unit and being in charge of the Home Circuit Administration Unit.
Ms. Thompson has also been tasked over the years with heading the Seminar Planning Committee and being Liaison Officer for the Clerk of the Courts.
She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
She later attended the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree, then the Norman Manley Law School where she obtained her Certificate of Legal Education.
Ms. Thompson is a Member of the Criminal Case Management Steering Committee and a member of the Human Resource Management Committee in the Ministry of Justice.
Thompson's appointment welcomed
Attorneys from the private bar have been expressing praise and good wishes to Ms. Thompson as she takes on the significant role in serving Jamaica.
Senior attorney Lloyd McFarlane congratulated Ms. Thompson on Monday morning during a hearing in the Home Circuit Court.
Attorney Christopher Townsend has also endorsed Ms. Thompson's appointment, noting that "She has done well throughout her career...she will certainly get my support."
King's Counsel Peter Champagnie added that Ms. Thompson is more than capable of acting as DPP.
"In fact, it's a legacy and a testament to Ms. Llewellyn's own ability to have persons who are able to fill that space. And I know that Ms. Thompson is someone who is fair-minded, strong Christian principles, and will be able to carry on and be what to be expected of her in that office. So congratulations are in order," he said.
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