Legislation to make judge-alone trials permanent passes in Lower House

The move towards permanent implementation of judge-alone trials took a significant step forward as the Lower House voted to remove the sunset clause from the legislation.

In 2021, the Criminal Proceedings (Trial by Judge Alone) Act was introduced, enabling specific criminal trials to proceed without a jury under particular circumstances.

Originating in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim was to address the backlog of indictable cases awaiting trial.

Initially, the legislation included a sunset clause, setting an expiration date. This date was subsequently extended twice.

However, recent advocacy from the head of the court system recommended making the law permitting judge-alone trials permanent.

Following this recommendation, the Cabinet decided to accept and amend the law accordingly.

This decision positions the twin island as the first in the OECS jurisdiction to adopt this legislation, joining other countries in the region such as Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Additionally, countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States already have judge-alone trials legislated.

The law will be gazetted once the Senate also approves.