Justice Bulkan’s appointment seen as helping to clear Appeal Court backlog
Former Magistrate and University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer Christopher Arif Bulkan was yesterday sworn in as a temporary Appellate Judge by President David Granger who said that the appointment is part of efforts to ensure that justice is dispensed in an efficient and timely manner.
“The efficient and timely dispensation of justice by courts is a fundamental basis of our lawbased system… An efficient and independent judiciary ensures that citizens have access to justice and that this access is fair and swift”, Granger said during the swearing in ceremony at State House.
Justice Bulkan will sit in the Court of Appeal for a period of six months commencing from yesterday and given his full-time commitment to UWI, there may be no possibility for the extension of his time there. Justice Bulkan’s appointment brings the court’s complement to five. The other appellate judges are Acting Chancellor Yonette CummingsEdwards, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, Justice Dawn Gregory and Justice Rishi Persaud.
In delivering brief remarks after Justice Bulkan took the oath of office, Granger said that a full complement of judges, magistrates and legal officers promotes judicial efficiency and public confidence in the rule of law.
The President said that Bulkan’s appointment is provided for in the constitution and he singled out Articles 128 (1) and (2).
Article 128(1) of the Constitution provides that judges, other than the Chancellor and Chief Justice, are appointed by the president, “who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.” Article 128(2) also provides that “the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission and appoint a person to act in the office of Justice of Appeal or Puisne Judge, as the case may be.”
Granger added that the Constitution also makes provisions for protecting and preserving the independence, impartiality and integrity of the judiciary. “This ceremony therefore is an affirmation of the government’s commitment to ensuring that the judicial system remains independent”, he said.
Justice Bulkan later explained to reporters that his appointment is not unique. “It’s not the first time it has happened…It is a similar process, you have to be interviewed by the Judicial Service