THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has made an open call for applications for the prestigious position of Justice of Appeal.
It is inviting applications from distinguished legal minds who possess the requisite qualifications, experience, and integrity to serve at the highest echelons of the judiciary.

Applicants for the position of Justice of Appeal must be or have been a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Guyana or any other part of the Commonwealth, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such court.

Alternately, applicants must be qualified for admission to practise as an attorney-at-law in the courts of Guyana or as an attorney-at-law in a court in any other part of the Commonwealth having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal cases or matters; and be qualified for not fewer than 15 years to practice in such court.

They must also possess a high level of understanding of relevant principles of law and jurisprudence and comprehensive knowledge of relevant rules of evidence and of court practices and procedure. It is desirable that applicants have a common law background and knowledge and experience in criminal practice and procedure and civil practice and procedure.
Applicants are also expected to possess a high level of personal integrity, fairness, impartiality and understanding of people and society.

The person appointed will be responsible for adjudicating fairly and in a timely manner over all allocated appellate criminal and civil matters; hearing and determining applications made in chambers in the civil and criminal jurisdictions of the court; interpreting and applying applicable laws, rules and precedents to the cases before the Court of Appeal and produce written judgements, and performing any other function or scope of work normally assigned to or required from a Justice of Appeal.

The officer appointed will be bound by the Constitution of Guyana, Judicial Service Commission Rules, Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana’s Code of Conduct for Judges, Departmental Rules and other conditions of service which may be in force from time to time.

Those appointed will be required to serve a probationary period of at least six months. On satisfactory completion of the period of probation, the appointees will be confirmed.
The judiciary had been requesting the appointment of more judicial officers, citing the rise in workload due to staff shortages.

There are now at least six appellate judge vacancies at the Court of Appeal, as a result of the Court of Appeal Act being amended last year to increase the number of judges. Under the old law, the Court of Appeal was to have no less than two judges and no more than five. However, the modified legislation stipulates that the minimum and maximum number of Justices of Appeal are now five and nine, respectively.

There are presently three judges on the Court of Appeal bench: Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), and Justices Dawn Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud. In February, nine new magistrates were appointed, bringing the total number to 29.

Also, a new post of Deputy Chief Magistrate has been created. Meanwhile, 10 new Puisne Judge nominations to the High Court were recently recommended by the JSC.
The JSC is a constitutional body that deals with issues pertaining to judicial officers’ appointments, disciplinary action, removals, and promotions.