Belizean Talent Overlooked for High Court Bench?
The debate over two possible foreign judges for Belize’s High Court is heating up. The Association of Defense Attorneys says qualified Belizeans were overlooked, including experienced attorneys, magistrates and senior judicial officers. The group also says no Belizean currently sits in the High Court’s criminal division and is calling for the JLSC to be reconstituted. Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre Jr. says the process is still ongoing and no final appointments have been made.
Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General
“There has not been any formal appointment of any judges. So as part of the process, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, they engage in their process. They’re a separate body, separate from government, separate from any other entity. So they’re the ones that does the reviewing of applications, reviewing of CVs, interviews, et cetera. They would make a recommendation with respect to who are the successful applicants. Once that recommendation is received, that recommendation is onward is submitted to the office of the Prime Minister. The office of the Prime Minister would submit to the Leader of the Opposition to request, in this particular case, the Honorable Tracy Panton, her views on the matter. As things currently stand, she has written to the government, and she’s requesting certain information. So the process is still ongoing, and no final determination has been made on that matter as yet.”
Reporter
“So when it comes to Sheiniza Smith, I believe was the name that was called, it’s not official as yet?”
Anthony Sylvestre
“No, no, no. No official decision has been made. I’m not quite sure how that information came about. And as somebody had pointed out, I think the Leader of Opposition herself had expressed consternation, surprise that when perhaps maybe she, she wasn’t consulted. But no, no decision has been made because the process is still ongoing with respect to, at this point the Leader of the Opposition being engaged and being consulted.”
Reporter
“How long will that process take to complete, more or less?”
Anthony Sylvestre
“That process continues. Obviously, consultation requires reasonable opportunity aand this is what jurisprudence of this era would suggest, that a reasonable opportunity for the opposition to receive her feedback.”
He emphasized that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission independently reviews applications and makes recommendations, after which the views of the Leader of the Opposition must be sought before any appointments can be finalized.
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