The Supreme Court of Judicature of Barbados is the highest judicial body in the country of

Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate). ...

. It is made up of the High Court and the Court of Appeals.Law Courts of Barbados
- About the court Appeals from the Supreme Court can be further referred to the

jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. Jur ...

of the

Caribbean Court of Justice The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ; nl, Caribisch Hof van Justitie; french: Cour Caribéenne de Justice) is the judicial institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Established in 2005, it is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. ...

(CCJ).

Functions

The High Court consists of

Civil Civil may refer to: *Civic virtue, or civility *Civil action, or lawsuit * Civil affairs *Civil and political rights *Civil disobedience *Civil engineering *Civil (journalism), a platform for independent journalism *Civilian, someone not a membe ...

Criminal In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Can ...

, and

Family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

branches. The Court of Appeals handles appeals from the High Court and the magistrates' courts, and hears appeals in both the civil and criminal branches of law. It may consist of a single Justice of Appeal sitting in chambers, or as a

full court A full court (less formally, full bench) is a court of law sitting with a greater than normal number of judges. For a court which is usually presided over by one judge, a full court has three or more judges; for a court which, like many appellate ...

of three Justices of Appeal.

Composition

Justices of Appeal:Law Courts of Barbados - Personnel
*The Hon. Chief Justice and President Sir Marston Gibson *The Hon. Madam. Justice

Sandra Mason Dame Sandra Prunella Mason (born 17 January 1949) is a Barbadian politician, lawyer, and diplomat who is serving as the first president of Barbados since 2021. She was previously the eighth and final governor-general of Barbados from 2018 to 20 ...

*The Hon. Mr.Justice Andrew Burgess *The Hon. Madam Justice Kaye Goodridge Judges of the High Court: *The Hon. Mr. Justice William Chandler *The Hon. Madam Justice Margaret Reifer *The Hon. Mr. Justice Randall Worrell *The Hon. Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius *Dr. The Hon. Madam Justice Sonia Richards *Dr. The Hon. Justice Olson Alleyne *The Hon. Madam Justice Michelle Weekes *The Hon. Madam Justice Pamela Beckles

Appointment of justices

Justices are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services.

Building

The Supreme Court is located in a five-storey reinforced concrete structure of which includes both civil and criminal courts, together with office accommodation and facilities for judges, juries, attorneys, prisoners, and the public, as well as the Registry and Records offices.

Caribbean Court of Justice

The

(CCJ), (based in

Port Of Spain Port of Spain (Spanish: ''Puerto España''), officially the City of Port of Spain (also stylized Port-of-Spain), is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the third largest municipality, after Chaguanas and San Fernando. The city has a municip ...

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

), is the court of last resort (final jurisdiction) for Barbados. It replaced the

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

-based

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is the highest court of appeal for the Crown Dependencies, the British Overseas Territories, some Commonwealth countries and a few institutions in the United Kingdom. Established on 14 Augus ...

(JCPC) in 2003, upon the passage of both the ''Caribbean Court of Justice Act'' and the ''Constitution (Amendment) Act'' by the

Parliament of Barbados The Parliament of Barbados is the national legislature of Barbados. It is accorded legislative supremacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados.Constitution, Chapter V, Part 1; Section 35 The Parliament is bicameral in composition and is ...

. These acts were brought into force by Proclamation on April 8, 2005; allowing the CCJ to supersede the Privy Council as the court of final

Appellate Jurisdiction A court of appeals, also called a court of appeal, appellate court, appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In much of t ...

. The CCJ is also entrusted with the power to resolve disputes dealing with the

Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy The CARICOM Single Market and Economy, also known as the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), is an integrated development strategy envisioned at the 10th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ...

(CSME).

Judicial Oath

I, _________________________, do swear that I will well and truly serve Barbados in the office of the Chief Justice/Justice of Appeal/Judge of the High Court and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of Barbados without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God.

References

External links

Barbados Supreme Court
(BSC)
Office of the Attorney-GeneralFormer Town Hall and Supreme Court Building
The Ministry of Community Development & Culture, Barbados {{Authority control Law of Barbados Government of Barbados Barbados, Supreme Court of Judiciary of Barbados Courts and tribunals established in 1982 1982 establishments in Barbados