Leaked CCJ emails draw criticism; Samuels renews push for court as Jamaica's final appeal

Veteran attorney-at-law Bert Samuels has reiterated his call for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to serve as Jamaica’s final appellate court, even as the court faces controversy due to leaked emails published by the Sunday Express in Trinidad.

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What a poor display of judgement.

At a media briefing, Samuels condemned the leak, stressing that judicial integrity must be upheld to the highest standard. He referenced comments by Member of Parliament Marlene Malahoo-Forte, who described the leak of internal CCJ emails as a "poor display of judgement." Samuels agreed with Forte, stating that the leak of internal judicial matters is a more significant problem than the issues discussed, such as judicial dress codes. He noted that the leaked emails focused on leadership style rather than the delivery of judgments or the integrity of the court's president and judges.

Samuels, who openly supports Jamaica replacing the London-based Privy Council with the CCJ, also referenced arguments from former government minister AJ Nicholson. Nicholson has consistently argued that the CCJ is more accessible to the average Caribbean citizen. Samuels highlighted the financial barriers many Jamaicans face in appealing to the Privy Council, including the cost of travel and the potential refusal of visas, even for lawyers.

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The leak of internal emails among judges, internal issues, is a bigger problem than those issues on the discussion.

He further noted Nicholson's point that Jamaica does not require a referendum to adopt the CCJ, citing Barbados as an example of a nation that transitioned without one. Sir Dennis Byron, a former CCJ president, also made strong statements supporting the court's role.

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Many of my clients have been wronged, have appealed to the Jamaican Court of Appeal, feel that they have a good case, an opinion I share with many of my clients, but no money to go to England, let alone to get a visa from the British [High Commission] which can be refused.