Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is a higher court for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS),[1] including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat). It has unlimited jurisdiction in each member State.

History

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The ECSC was set up in 1967 by the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order No. 223 of 1967. In Grenada, the Court is called "the Supreme Court of Grenada and the West Indies Associated States". See section 105 of the Grenada Constitution.

Functions

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The functions of the ECSC are as follows:

  • To interpret and apply the laws of the various member states of the OECS;
  • To decide cases of both civil and criminal matters;
  • To hear appeals.

Composition

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Name State Position Elected
Brian George Keith Alleyne  Dominica Chief Justice 2003
Denys Arthur Barrow  Belize Justice of Appeal 2005
Hugh Anthony Rawlins  Saint Kitts and Nevis Justice of Appeal 2005
Ola Mae Edwards  Jamaica Justice of Appeal 2007
Esbon Anthony Ross  Saint Kitts and Nevis Managing Judge 2006
Janice Mesadis George-Creque  British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2003
David Courtenay Harris  Dominica High Court Judge 2007
Indra Hariprashad-Charles  British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2000
Rita Joseph-Olivetti  British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2001
Janice Mesadis George-Creque  British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2003
Davidson Baptiste  Dominica High Court Judge 2001
Claire Henry  Grenada High Court Judge 2001
Francis Mortimer Cumberbatch  Grenada High Court Judge 2007
Janice Mesadis George-Creque  Montserrat High Court Judge 2003
Francis Belle  Saint Kitts and Nevis High Court Judge 2003
Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave  Saint Kitts and Nevis High Court Judge 2005
Kenneth Andrew Charles Benjamin  Saint Lucia High Court Judge 1993
Sandra Prunella Mason  Saint Lucia High Court Judge 2005
Brian Cottle  Saint Lucia High Court Judge 2007
Frederick Victor Bruce-Lyle  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines High Court Judge 2000
Gertel Thom  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines High Court Judge 2005
Cheryl Mathurin  United Kingdom High Court Judge 2013
Pearletta Lanns  Saint Kitts and Nevis Master 2007

Location

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The Headquarters of the ECSC is in the Heraldine Rock Building, Waterfront, Castries, Saint Lucia. The building houses the Justices of Appeal’s chambers, the Court of Appeal Registry, the Judicial Education Institute, Library, and the Administrative Services.

Also, there are Court Offices in the nine Member States, which house the chambers of the High Court Judges and the offices of the High Court Registry. Each High Court Registry is headed by a legally trained Registrar to give administrative and legal support for the working of the High Court.

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References

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  1. ↑ Hatchard, John, ed. (2003). Directory of Commonwealth Law Schools. Cavendish Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 1859417582.

Other websites

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