Legal year opens

he legal fraternity on Monday reverted to a traditional church service to mark the start of the 2024-2025 legal year.

Members of the judiciary led by President Dame Sandra Mason, Chief Justice Leslie Haynes KC and Attorney General Dale Marshall SC converged in the heart of The City at the St Michael’s Cathedral for blessing on the workings of the court system throughout the year.

During the sermon delivered under the theme Bridging the gap between law and society: The role of the neighbourly principles, Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey Gibson, referring to the stories of Zacchaeus and Joseph, spoke on the concepts of retribution and forgiveness.

“The practice of forgiveness must be learned in the community. The part that forgiveness can play in the justice system would have to be worked out by the practitioners,” he said.

Forgiveness, the dean said, “works face to face and by such closer encounters, the stage may be set for the lifelong task of restoring wholeness . . . to individuals and communities”.

Following the service, the chief justice and the attorney general inspected The Barbados Police Forces’ guard of honour in front of the Supreme Court Complex.

A special sitting was then held in Supreme Court No. 1 where Chief Justice Haynes gave those in attendance a status update on matters in the courts since he assumed office four months ago.

He said the judicial council which is responsible for the administration of the courts met in July for the first time in almost two years and is scheduled to meet again in October.

By January next year, two more judges will be added to the family and civil divisions of the high court.

Haynes added that the court was working towards establishing a commercial division to provide “certain and speedy resolution” to large commercial matters. There are also plans to have an up-to-date court website. (FW)