Amending the CCJ law
published: Monday | June 28, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IN MY letter published in The Gleaner of Friday, June 25, under the title 'Reducing Access To Our Final Court', I raised the issue of the omission from the proposed CCJ law of any provision for the Court of Appeal to grant leave to appeal to the CCJ in criminal matters on points of public importance. The Attorney-General has reminded me that under the present law, this is provided for in the Judicature Appellate Jurisdiction Act and he has assured me that there is no intention to amend that law to take away that power. The CCJ law would amend the Constitution but not the Judicature Act.

Further, the proposed Bill to amend the Judicature Act does not include any amendment which would take away the Court of Appeals existing power to grant leave to the final court in criminal matters.

I am grateful to the Attorney-General for this clarification and for his assurances on this point. I am hopeful that with further debate and dialogue on the other points raised, they may be resolved in the interest of us all.

I am, etc.,

JACQUELINE

SAMUELS-BROWN

Attorney-at-Law