More judges appointed but mediation can ease caseload- Chief Justice

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 January 2025, 23:21 by Writer

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on Tuesday said that although several judges have been appointed, the judiciary is still saddled with a huge number of cases and she recommended that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms be used.

She produced statistics showing that between October 4, 2024 and December 3, 2024, 37 appeals were filed in the High Court, and 1,637 cases filed in the High Court system of which 1,373 were in Demerara, 377 in Berbice and 76 in Essequibo.

Given the large number of cases being filed, the Chief Justice recommended that litigants seek alternative dispute resolution mechanisms including mediation and restorative justice.

“Despite the increase in the number of judicial officers, the court system cannot realistically conduct trials in every case or deliver judgements within the four-month timeframe prescribed by law due to the heavy caseload dealt with by each civil judge,” she said. Attorney General Anil Nandlall often criticises the judiciary for failing to produce judgements within the legally prescribed timeframe.

Addressing the opening of the 2025 Law Year at the Victoria Law Courts, High Court Registrar Sueanna Lovell welcomed the appointment of members to the Judicial Service Commission who appointed ten new High Court judges, three Commissioners of Title and nine new magistrates. “These appointments represent, for the first time, that our judiciary has had such a full complement of officers, thus increasing our capacity to meet the needs of our growing society,” Ms Lovell said.