JCPC opens its historical sittings in the Cayman Islands

In another historic first for the Cayman Islands and the Overseas Territories (OTs), the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) opens its sittings in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, 15 November 2022.  The four-day sitting will conclude on Friday, 18 November.

In addition to conducting hearings, the Justices will be engaged in several information-sharing initiatives designed to add value to the visit for the Cayman Islands. These include a “Court Users” meeting, to be attended by a cross-section of legal practitioners; a meeting with senior high-school-aged students from St. Ignatius High, Cayman Prep High, and the “Dual Enrolment” programme at the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI). A similar meeting with students at the Truman Bodden Law School (TBLS) has been scheduled.

Teachers of the high-school-aged students have all reported an enthusiastic response from the students.  “The students are very excited to be in attendance and have been working through their lunchbreaks this week to get prepared,” said Mr. Daniel Baker head of Sixth Form at Cayman Prep. “I am sure the day will help motivate them to do well in their forthcoming exams and identify suitable career pathways in Law.” This session of Ask a Justice will be available to the three institutions via live stream to allow other students to view the session.

The opening of the JCPC Sitting on Tuesday will be preceded by an inspection of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) Guard of Honour at 9 am, in front of the Main Court of the Halls of Justice.  That will be followed by the formal opening of the JCPC sitting in the Cayman Islands at 10:30 am in Grand Court 1, with overflow to Grand Court 2.

Accompanying JCPC President The Rt. Hon. The Lord Reed of Allermuir for the opening ceremonies will be Deputy President The Rt. Hon. The Lord Hodge, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Lloyd-Jones, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Briggs of Westbourne, and The Rt. Hon. The Lord Kitchin.

Prior to Tuesday’s opening ceremonies, recently retired Chief Justice Sir Anthony Smellie will join current Chief Justice Margaret-Ramsay-Hale in welcoming the Justices.  They will be joined by HE the Governor Mr. Martyn Roper, the Deputy Governor Mr. Franz Manderson, the Premier the Hon. Wayne Panton, the Deputy Premier the Hon. Christopher Saunders, the Attorney General the Hon. Samuel Bulgin, and the President of the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association Mr. Erik Bodden.

Following preliminaries, the first day of hearings will begin at approximately 11:15 am in Courtroom 9, located on the second floor of the Halls of Justice Building C (the Former Bank of Nova Scotia Building) on Albert Panton Street.