Court of Appeal performance to be addressed

Eamon Courtenay

Wednesday, January 14, 2015. AARON HUMES Reporting: During Monday’s ceremonial opening of the 2015 Supreme Court in Belize City, President of the Bar Association of Belize Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay leveled a broadside at the Court of Appeal which he says was “historic in its under-performance” with regard to the last session of 2014, having traversed all criminal appeals before it and hearing very few civil appeals.

He warned of “drastic and dramatic actions” if this was not addressed, stating that he was supported by his colleagues via resolution to bring the matter to the public after failing to get the attention of authorities.

In his reply, Attorney General Wilfred Elrington promised immediate action on this and other issues including the continuing trouble with delayed and late judgments and the non-performance of the General Legal Council in addressing complaints against attorneys.

Wilfred Elrington

Today the Attorney General reported on what he did and why the matter, to quote his phrase in Monday’s address, is “above his paygrade.”

The Court’s members, as are all judges in Belize’s jurisdiction, are officially appointed by the Governor General with the advice and consent of the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition respectively.

Current Court President Manuel Sosa is the longest-serving and only Belizean jurist; he is joined by elevated former Supreme Court Justices Samuel Awich and Minnet Hafiz-Bertram and visiting Justices Dennis Morrison and Christopher Blackman.

The Court meets three times per year with a fourth session if necessary and the first meeting for 2015 is scheduled for March.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2015, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.