Judge only trials: There is a case file being debated within the legal fraternity about the utilization of bench trials or Judge only trials.
Defence Attorneys are objecting to the use of Judge only trials calling it a right of all citizens to be tried before a Jury of their peers.
But Chief Justice Bryan Sykes opines that those accused have a right to a fair trial within a reasonable time.
Court Administration suspended Jury trials to prevent any spread of COVID-19 in March. Since then, there has been no new Jury trials, which according to the Judiciary extends the duration of court cases.
However, lawyers have rebutted, claiming that court can make physical changes to facilitate social distancing.
Additionally, there were arguments that offenders face a higher risk of conviction with Judges rather than a Jury.
However, the statistics from the court does not support this assertion. The Defense Attorneys also argue that Judges with prosecutorial backgrounds are more likely to side with the state.
But Justice Sykes has rebutted that as well.
Both Counsel and the Judiciary have presented weighty arguments to support their position.
Now, it is up to the nations highest lawmaking authority, the Parliament to decide the verdict and its very unlikely that it’ll be a hung Jury.
CVM LIVE‘s Jamaila Maitland reports:
