Legal year 2018 officially starts today

By BBN Staff: Supreme Court Judges, attorneys and other clerical staff from within the judiciary, took to the streets this morning for the ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court of Belize. 

The event kicked off with an Ecumenical service at Wesley Church on Albert Street, followed by the usual procession of the judiciary from the church to the Supreme Court steps.  Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin then inspected the Guard of Honor, a tradition handed down from the British empire before attendees gathered in is courtroom for his address.

 

The CJ gave the first of three speeches, giving updates on all the happenings within the judiciary for the year 2017, from its 0.6 percent reduction of funds allocated from the national budget to training of the various members of the judiciary staff.

 

President of the Belize Bar Association, Priscilla Banner gave the second address, briefly speaking on the importance of the Bar, the Judiciary and the Government in ensuring that the rule of law is preserved in Belize.

 

Banner noted that the Bar is not impressed by administrative advancements within the judiciary when there is a large backlog of cases that need to be addressed.

Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte gave the final address, outlining some of the laws and amendments GOB passed in 2017 including the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act, which decriminalized small amounts of marijuana for personal possession.

 

This year marked the 7th address that Chief Justice Benjamin delivered.