The Dominica Bar Association has restated its confidence in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), following the publication of confidential internal correspondence involving CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson and other judges of the regional court.
The association said it continues to support the CCJ as the Caribbean's final appellate court, despite the controversy generated by the leaked emails. The correspondence, which became public in recent days, revealed internal disagreement among judges of the court.
The Bar Association's position is significant because it represents attorneys who practise before the CCJ and other courts in Dominica. Its public backing offers the court a measure of institutional support at a time when its internal workings are under scrutiny.
The CCJ, headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad, serves as the highest court of appeal for several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, including Dominica. It also has an original jurisdiction to interpret the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
Dominica is among the countries that have replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London with the CCJ as their final court. The court's judges are appointed by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
The leaked emails have raised questions about relations among the judges and the internal administration of the court. However, the Dominica Bar Association's statement makes clear that it does not see the disclosure as undermining the court's ability to dispense justice.
The association has not commented on the specific contents of the correspondence, focusing instead on its continued faith in the institution. Its reaffirmation echoes similar sentiments expressed by other legal bodies across the region in response to the leak.
Legal observers in the Eastern Caribbean have noted that public confidence in the judiciary is essential to the rule of law. Statements of support from national bar associations can help steady that confidence when internal disputes become public.
The CCJ has not issued a detailed public response to the leaked emails. The court has previously emphasised its commitment to transparency and the proper administration of justice.
For Dominica, the CCJ remains the ultimate arbiter in legal disputes, and the Bar Association's stance signals that the legal profession on the island continues to regard the court as a credible and independent institution.
