Bar Concerned About Quality of Judgments that Lack Details

The Bar Association of Belize is calling for an improvement in the quality of judgments delivered in the courts. Iliana Swift, President of the Bar Association, says there is a concern that judges are not offering enough clarification when they hand down a decision.

Iliana Swift

Iliana Swift, President, Bar Association of Belize

“And, while we assess the old practices that we should rid ourselves of, it is also important to assess the areas that require improvement. There is a growing concern, by the bar, about the quality of judgments delivered. It has unfortunately become quite common for parties to receive judgments, with little to no reason and merely a repetition of the arguments made by Council, and a statement as to which side’s argument was accepted. Parties to litigation, and most importantly, the unsuccessful party, should know why a judge arrived at a specific decision, as is consistent with the rules of natural justice. At the end of 2020, the legal system was in a dire state, with a lack of judges at all three levels, antiquated laws, and severely deficient registries. The Bar has been encouraged by steps taken by the Attorney General to breathe life back into the legal system, with the recruitment of judges and implementation of new laws, and e-governance that improves services at the registries.”