Chief justice asserts court’s independence
It’s an annual event that typically runs long on pomp and circumstance but short on substance. But this year’s ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court ran against the grain as the chief justice went out of his way to assure the public that on his watch the wall between politics and the judiciary is built high, thick and strong. Ann-Marie reports.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
Close to fifty distinguished men and women of Belize’s Bench and Bar turned out in full spit and polish. It’s the ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court for the 2001 legal year.
For the first time, an ecumenical service at St. John’s Cathedral preceded the ceremony. The lawyers, Magistrates and Commissioners of the Supreme Court made their way to the Supreme Court Building where Chief Justice Abdulai Cunteh inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the Dragon Unit of the Police Force.
After the general salute, Chief Justice Cunteh retired to his courtroom where he addressed the bench. He spoke of the importance of an independent judiciary. Saying that in order to gain and keep public confidence, lawyers must be scrupulous in their pursuit of justice.
Abdulai Cunteh, Chief Justice
“It cannot be overemphasised that in the legitimacy of the judiciary depends to a large extent upon public understanding of and confidence in the judicial process. The protection of the fundamental rights and freedom of every Belizean is entrusted by law to the judiciary. If follows therefore that a necessary prerequisite for this judicial independence and responsibility. Judicial independence requires primarily, freedom of conscience for the judges and non-interference in their decision making. This requires above all that judges must be free from partisan influence and private interests and that the judiciary must be beyond influence of the legislative and executive branches of government.”
Cunteh also did a brief review of the 2000 legal year. The Supreme Court tried thirty-five murder cases, eleven attempted murders, six manslaughter, eight manslaughter by negligence, fourteen rapes and two robberies. In closing he pledged to create an independent judiciary where trials will be fast and fair. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
There are twenty cases on this year’s Supreme Court calendar for the Central District including seven murders, four attempted murders, two manslaughter cases and one rape.
