REGIONAL JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION
POSITION OF JUDGE
CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (the Commission) is inviting applications for appointment as a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
Qualifications
A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to hold the office of Judge of the Court unless that person satisfies the following criteria:
(a) Is or has been engaged for a period or periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than five years, a Judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in the territory of a Contracting Party or in some part of the Commonwealth, or in a State exercising civil law jurisprudence common to Contracting Parties, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court and who, in the opinion of the Commission, has distinguished himself or herself in that office; or
(b) Is or has been engaged in the practice or teaching of law for a period or periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years in a Member State of the Caribbean Community or in a Contracting Party in some part of the Commonwealth, or in a State exercising civil law jurisprudence common to Contracting parties, and has distinguished himself or herself in the legal profession.
In making appointments to the office of Judge, the Commission is required to have regard to the following criteria: high moral character, intellectual and analytical ability, sound judgment, integrity and an understanding of people and society. It should be noted that the normal age of retirement for CCJ Judges is 72. Applicants who have been short-listed may be required to attend an interview in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
Jurisdiction of the CCJ
The CCJ exercises two types of jurisdictions:
(i) a general appellate jurisdiction in civil, constitutional and criminal matters from those Member States of CARICOM which adopt the CCJ as their final court of appeal (at present Barbados, Guyana and Belize); and
(ii) a compulsory and exclusive original jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for all the Member States of CARICOM.
Headquarters of the Court
The Seat of the Court is located in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago but there is provision for the Court to be itinerant and hear cases in any Contracting Party.
How to Apply
Access soft copy of Application Form here and access soft copy Guidance Notes here.
OR
Collect hard copy of Application Form and Guidance Notes from The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission at 134 Henry Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
Submit completed Application Form with supporting documents either via electronic mail to rjlscommission@gmail.com or, alternatively, to the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission, 134 Henry Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.
Closing Date for Applications
Applications must be received on or before 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (Trinidad & Tobago) on Monday 15th September 2014.
Other information about the CCJ
Information concerning the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission, the Terms and Conditions of Judicial Officers, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and other matters is available on the Court’s website.
The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission:
Constituted under the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice.