With a case backlog of lower than two per cent, Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, says that the parish courts are formally backlog-free.
The minister made the announcement whereas offering an replace on the progress being made in lowering backlogs within the nation’s courtroom system, throughout his contribution to the 2025/2026 Sectoral Debate within the Home of Representatives on Tuesday (June 3).
He famous that primarily based on worldwide requirements, if the case backlog is beneath 5 per cent, then the courtroom system is taken into account backlog-free.
Chuck stated the event is a historic achievement for the justice system, noting that greater than 70 per cent of parish courtroom circumstances are accomplished inside 12 months.
“At the moment, the justice system is undeniably extra environment friendly and responsive. That’s the vital a part of the journey in the direction of a extra simply and safer Jamaica,” he stated.
The justice minister knowledgeable that the variety of judges within the system and prosecutors on the Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have elevated.
Within the Court docket of Enchantment, the variety of judges has moved from six to 13, whereas within the Supreme Court docket there at the moment are 42 judges, up from 32.
As well as, the variety of judges within the Parish Courts has moved from 50 to 78, whereas the Masters in Chamber at the moment are on the full complement of eight, up from three; and the variety of prosecutors within the Workplace of the DPP stands at 58 and shall be elevated to 70 shortly.
He additionally introduced that nearly $7 billion have been paid in judgement money owed.
“By resolving these long-standing and perennial monetary obligations we have now restored confidence in Jamaica’s authorized system to pay its debt to profitable litigants,” Chuck stated.
He additional knowledgeable that between 2023 and 2025, the ministry has supplied $43.5 million to the Common Authorized Council in the direction of the execution of its mandate below the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
He famous that the availability has enabled the Council “to correctly examine, audit, and test attorneys. We, on the Ministry of Justice, supported by the Ministry of Finance [and the Public Service], agreed to help them to guarantee that all attorneys in follow are correctly audited and supervised”.
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