Any serious attempt to reduce the backlog of cases in the island’s court system must involve the appointment of more judges and the introduction of a plea bargaining system.
That’s the view of the Barbados Bar Association, which reckons that some measures proposed by Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson would not be very effective in reducing the hundreds of cases that have been clogging the judicial system over the years.
“Clearly, we are not catching up; we are getting farther and farther away as the backlog clogs up. The judicial system is suffering and we could use four or five more judges,” spokesman, Andrew Pilgrim, QC, told the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday.
Last week, the Chief Justice announced that soon a video-conference link would be introduced between the courts and Dodds Prison, which would allow certain hearings like applications for bail.
