Judge urges jurors to uphold law, civic responsibility

Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell has urged jurors to play an active role in preserving law and order, stressing that their decisions and civic conduct are critical to maintaining a stable society.

Thanking jurors in the No. 4 Supreme Court for their service ahead of the Assizes’ summer break, the High Court judge said that citizens must stand for principles that protect society.

She said: “The reality is that we live in a society where you have to stand for something. If you’re not standing for a principle, the society will dissolve into anarchy and chaos. And this is where it happens, so you can either take the stand to reflect what is moral and good in society, or you could take the position of going along with the rest of society and prepare for anarchy to reign.”

She reminded jurors of the importance of their service and that their verdicts must be based on the evidence presented in court rather than emotion or personal bias:

“We don’t expect for you to come in here and find people guilty based on no evidence. We expect that the State provides the evidence and you are to put aside your feelings, your biases, your soft-heartedness and make the decision based on the evidence, failing which all of us will be locked up in our house and the time would come when they come for us in our house.”

Reflecting on her own role, Justice Smith-Bovell also noted that judges are equally affected by crime and insecurity but must carry out their duties impartially and without fear.

“I tell people there’s nothing special about me. I go to the supermarket, the gas station, the beach. So I don’t sit here thinking that I am immune from what is happening in society. I come here, I follow the law. I treat people fairly. I try to be empathetic and sympathetic. But if I sit here in fear, I fail to do the job. And how you all took an oath, I also swore on the Bible to do the job without fear or favour.”

She encouraged jurors to extend the same sense of civic duty beyond the courtroom, saying that every citizen has a role in improving society.

“That is your responsibility as members of society, not just coming to court. When you go into public, you are supposed to carry that thought with you. It is not getting better. It’s getting worse. And you have to help educate, and correct the six year old that is walking down the road and cursing. You have to stop them and correct them. It is your responsibility as a citizen.”

The judge urged jurors to consider the long-term consequences of failing to address declining standards of behaviour.

“You’re going to have children and grandchildren. Think ten years down the road if we continue this way, where and how we are going to be living? It is about making society safe for all of us.”

Emphasising that justice, not punishment, is the ultimate objective of the courts, Justice Smith-Bovell urged the jurors to educate the public about their experience:

“It is about making society safe for all of us. My intention here is not to lock up people. My intention here is to ensure justice is served, and whether it involves locking up or letting go, I will do what is right. The prosecutor will tell you that there have been times that I have stopped cases and said ‘You all cannot go any further in this case because you don’t have any evidence’ and we will let go the jury… It is about being fair. It is about doing the right thing regardless of the circumstances.” 

(JB)