Law Year Highlight - the Chancellor speech from the rostrum
The opening of the criminal sessions every January has become an occasion for much pomp and ceremony. It includes police parade and band, all sitting judges, magistrates, Registrars of the Courts and Attorneys. Aside from the visual spectacle, the speeches after the event are enlightening, as it is one of the few times that we hear judicial officials speak publicly.
In this highlight, we look at the speech by The Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice George-Wiltshire S.C and the significance of her comments from the rostrum. Her comments can be grouped into the following categories:
Disclosure of Case Numbers
The Chancellor disclosed that at the Supreme Court level that 5847 High Court cases, 181 Full Court appeals, 298 Court of Appeal cases were filed in 2025. At the Magistrate Cout level that 30,000 criminal cases and 700 civil cases were filed. No figures were disclosed about the disposal rates for these cases, but it was stated that there is no backlog in High Court Civil cases at this time.
Perhaps the most significant revelation was that approximately 2000 cases, filed over a number of years, were yet to be heard by the Court of Appeal. It appears from notices in the national newspapers that the Court of Appeal is making some effort to hear the backlogged matters. From the Chancellor’s speech it seems to be a similar situation in Land Court, although no backlog figure was disclosed she did say that a decision was taken to increase the compliment of Commissioner of Titles (Land Court Judges) to address the situation.
Legislative Changes needed
The Chancellor also set out a wish list of legislative changes that she would like to see to improve the performance of the Judiciary in 2026.
They include new legislation or amendments to current legislation to allow for digital document preparation and filing of court proceedings and transcription for Magistracy, changes to the Legal Practitioners Act to require mandatory minimum number of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and yearly registration of Attorneys-at-Law based on the minimum number of CLE hours and she called for complete review of the Bail Act 2022 and a partial review of the Deceased persons Estate Act in relation to resealing of Grants.
Strength of the Judiciary
The Chancellor set out the current strength of the Judiciary as 30 Magistrates, 9 Court of Appeal Judges 15 High Court Judges and 3 Commissioners of Title, with plans to appoint more this year. She also indicated that currently 7 vacancies exist at the Magistrate level and 5 vacancies exist at the High Court level. Further that the Judicial Service Commission will be considering the appointment of these vacancies by Mid-Year 2026.
