Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes as fundamental the principle that everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of rights and obligations and of any criminal charge.
Whereas the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees that all persons shall be equal before the courts and that in the determination of any criminal charge or of rights and obligations in a legal proceeding, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.
Whereas the foregoing fundamental principles and rights are also recognised or reflected in the Constitutions of Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at common law and civil law and in judicial conventions and traditions.
Whereas an independent judiciary is essential to the maintenance of the rule of law and for ensuring good governance.
Whereas public acceptance of the moral authority and integrity of the judiciary contributes to the maintenance of the rule of law and the promotion of good governance.
And whereas it is essential that judges, individually and collectively, respect and honour judicial office as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain confidence in the judicial system.
The principles and rules promulgated in the Code, available for download below, are intended to establish standards for ethical conduct of judges. They are principles and rules of reason to be applied in the light of all relevant circumstances and consistently with the requirements of judicial independence and the law. They are designed to provide guidance to judges and to afford a structure for the regulation of judicial conduct. They are intended to supplement and not to derogate from existing rules of law or rules of conduct which bind judges:
- Propriety
- Independence
- Equality
- Integrity
- Impartiality
- Competence and Diligence
- Accountability