Friday, 16 September 2011

Act professionally, governor general urges new judges

Article of Interest
 
Published by The Daily Gleaner on September 16, 2011 - Governor General Sir Patrick Allen has advised the island's newest judges to "adhere to the principles of their profession" in a society fundamentally altered by social networks and new electronic media.
 
"It is no longer a treasonable act to criticise," Sir Patrick reminded those attending the swearing-in of the puisne judges and master in chambers yesterday morning.

"We are being keenly scrutinised, on Facebook and elsewhere," the governor general said in reference to the effects of new media technology on the behaviour of public figures. His cautionary message was not, however, echoed by all those speaking at King's House.

Don't be swayed by criticism
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Seymour Panton, advised the newly invested members of the judiciary to not worry about criticism.

"For newspapers and electronic media, propagating falsehoods … is par for the course," Panton declared during his address, through which he outlined instead what he thought were the real challenges faced by the new judges.

Space constraints and the daunting delays associated with the judicial system, according to Panton, are more pressing issues for his branch of government.

For example, the pace at which the old NCB building in Justice Square is being refurbished, he warned, will mean that the new judges will begin their tenure in somewhat "cramped" surroundings.

However, the problems of today's judiciary are not just related to construction.
"The judiciary is not the poor cousin of the Government," Panton said. But for the greater part of the past 30 years, he said, "the executive has not been very kind in terms of honouring contracts with judges".

Its independence from the other branches of government, coupled with the unquestioned integrity of its judges, Panton stressed, is the only thing that can allow the judiciary to fulfil its commitment "not to any group, but Jamaica".

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