Nine new magistrates to be sworn in
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in a release yesterday said that nine attorneys at law have been selected to serve as magistrates.
According to the release the nine are: Omadatt Chandan, Tamieka Clarke, Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy, Shivani Lalaram, Michelle Matthias, Ravindra Mohabir, Teriq Mohammed and Orinthia Schmidt. The nine soon-to-be magistrates will take the oath of Office before Prime Minister Mark Phillips today at 10:30 a.m., the JSC noted in the release.
The long-awaited reconstitution of the JSC was realised in July last year with the swearing-in of its members.
With acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards as the Chairperson, the other commissioners are former Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh; retired Appeal Court Judge, Beasraj Singh Roy; acting Chief Justice, Roxane George SC; and Public Service Commission Chairman, Manniram Prashad. Justice George and Prashad are ex-officio members of the JSC.
The lifespan of the commission is three years and commenced on July 14, 2023. Its remit includes the power to make appointments, to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting within the offices of Commissioner of Title, Director of Public Prosecutions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Magistrate, Registrar of the High Court, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Registrar of Deeds, and Deputy Registrar of Deeds, among others.
The JSC also advises the President on the appointment of judges, except the Chancellor and the Chief Justice.
In mid-October of 2023, the JSC invited applications from suitably qualified persons for the position of magistrate to serve in the 10 administrative regions and judges for the High Court.
This newspaper understands that after the appointments of the magistrates and judges, another notice would be issued for judges for the Appeal Court where currently there are only three serving although the law caters for 9.