Two judges were today sworn in by President David Granger as justices of the Court of Appeal. Taking the oath of office were Justices Roxanne George-Wiltshire and Justice Dawn Gregory.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at State House. The two Justices join the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who also sits as an appellate judge.
President Granger flanked by the newly sworn in judges.
Speaking at the ceremony President Granger said the supremacy of the Constitution, the legitimacy of government, the efficacy of political democracy and the safety and felicity of our peoplewould be impossible without the existence of an independent judicature.
As such he noted that the judicature is fundamental to good governance because it protects the people’s rights and prevents the emergence of autocracy.
Judicial independence, he explained, means that the judiciary must be protected from both private and partisan interests, such as from persons or pressure groups, and from the influence and control of the other branches of government. In fact he asserted that Judicial independence is essential to ensure the integrity of the rule of law. “The rule of law requires that everyone should be subject to the law and prescribes that no one should be above the law,” said President Granger as he added that Judicial independence acts to prevent the derogation from the rule of law.”
Respect for the rule of law, President Granger said, is the foundation of a law-based society, one which can be sustained only by an independent judiciary. Moreover, he noted that Government will continue to respect judicial independence. “The Executive branch of government has no interest in interfering in the work of the judiciary. It seeks, only, the preservation of a judiciary which is unbiased, unblemished and unmindful of personal prejudices,” stressed the Head of State.