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Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin
The High Court in St. John’s has taken a significant step to modernize its criminal division by introducing the E-Litigation Portal Criminal Module, a system designed to simplify the process of filing cases.
Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Justice Mario Michel, visited Antigua to participate in the launch event at the High Court.
During the event, Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin emphasized the importance of this digital transformation in the criminal justice system, highlighting its potential to improve accessibility, efficiency, and transparency.
He also outlined four key benefits of this development: increased efficiency, enhanced accessibility, improved case management, and reduced costs.
Acting Director of Public Prosecution, Shannon Jones-Gittens, expressed her enthusiasm for the cost-saving potential and the anticipated reduction in delays, noting the positive impact this will have on the court system serving nine small island states.
President of the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association, Cherissa Roberts-Thomas, also acknowledged the significance of this advancement in the justice system.
This marks the expansion of the E-Litigation Portal, following its introduction in the civil division in January 2020 and in the Family Court in October 2022.
Antigua and Barbuda now joins five other states within the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in implementing this innovative system.
I think it absolutely necessary now for our legal luminaries to go beyond the photo shoots and public , explanatory statements to the process of truly educating the public as to the nature, rationale, functions and measurable expectation of this novel legislative tool. Is this too much to ask?