The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court marked the commencement of the 2026 law year Monday under the theme “The ECSC: Justice that Endures – Anchored in Independence, Strengthened through Trust.”

The day began with a church service at Saint John’s Anglican Cathedral at 8 am, followed by a procession to the High Court where the Guard of Honour was inspected. The Special Sitting of the High Court convened at 10 am, with Acting Chief Justice the Honourable Madam Margaret Price Findlay delivering the feature address live from the court in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

One of the major announcements from her speech was that the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is developing a formal policy to govern the use of artificial intelligence by judges and practitioners as it explores further responsible uses of AI within courtrooms and judicial administration.

Justice Findlay revealed that the ECSC has embarked on procuring an upgrade of its AI Transcription Service, FDR Justice Cloud, which was first installed in courtrooms across several member states and territories in 2024.

“The ECSC has embarked upon procuring an upgrade of the FDR Justice Cloud Service, which will significantly advance the court’s recording and transcription capabilities, enhancing both the reliability of our records and the efficiency with which judgments may be produced,” she said.

The Acting Chief Justice emphasized that while the court recognizes the benefits of emerging technologies, it is also mindful of the risks.

“Recognizing both the benefits and risks inherent in these emerging technologies, the court is now developing a formal policy to govern the use of AI by judges and practitioners alike,” Justice Findlay stated.

She explained that the policy is intended to promote the reduction of administrative and routine tasks while safeguarding judicial independence and fairness.

“The ECSC is committed to ensuring that technology remains a tool in the service of justice, not a substitute for judicial judgment or other ethical obligations attendant to the legal profession,” she said.

The court also intends to undertake a comprehensive revamp of its website to introduce new software designed to improve functionality, accessibility, and ease of use.

Justice Findlay noted that in an era where the public increasingly engages with institutions through digital platforms, “the court’s online presence is an essential gateway to information, services, and public understanding.”

“Having a modernized and easily accessible digital platform strengthens the court’s communication with the public, improves public access to court resources, and reinforces the court’s commitment to transparency and service,” she added.

While highlighting the court’s greatest technological achievement—the completion of the Electronic Litigation Portal project—Justice Findlay made a direct appeal to legal practitioners for their full cooperation.

“It has been over a year since the ECSC has achieved the full onboarding of all types of cases onto the ELP, marking a critical milestone in the pursuit of a more streamlined and uniform case management system,” she said.

However, she warned that “the full potential and usefulness of this innovation cannot be realized without the full cooperation and participation of the legal practitioners who are its main users.”

The Acting Chief Justice acknowledged challenges faced by court staff in interfacing with the platform and noted that the Information Technology Department is actively working to resolve these issues.

She urged all legal practitioners to follow the Electronic Litigation Portal guidelines found on the court’s website and complete the migration of all matters onto the system.

Justice Findlay noted that judge-alone trials in criminal proceedings have commenced in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent, and Saint Lucia, with expectations of significant reductions in criminal case backlogs.

“We anticipate that the use of judge-alone trials will further streamline and increase flexibility in criminal proceedings. We also expect a significant reduction in the criminal case backlog as the process is set to eliminate delays associated with jury selection and management,” she said.

The court has also completed a comprehensive revision of criminal procedural rules and is working on amendments to sentencing guidelines aimed at promoting consistency, transparency, and fairness.

A Criminal Mediation Practice Direction has been completed and sent out for public comment as part of efforts to expand Alternative Dispute Resolution within the criminal justice framework.

The Acting Chief Justice celebrated a major infrastructural milestone: the acquisition of the court’s purpose-built headquarters in Saint Lucia after nearly 20 years of effort.