In an encouraging turn of events, the backlog in the high court has witnessed a significant decrease in recent years, marking a positive trend for the justice system.
Data from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) highlight a consistent reduction in backlog from April 2019 to April 2024.
In April 2020, the high court faced a backlog of 179 matters, which saw a slight increase to 204 in April 2021. However, since then, there has been a steady decline.
By April 2022, the backlog had dropped to 148 cases, further decreasing to 115 in April 2023.
April 2024 figures reveal a notable decrease to just 79 cases, comprising 42 per cent, or 34 of a sexual nature, 21 homicides and 13 cases of non-fatal offenses against a person, namely grievous harm.
Commenting on this development in an interview with reporters following the opening of the April Assizes on Tuesday, Crown Counsel in the Office of the DPP, Howard Pinnock expressed satisfaction with this achievement which represents a 90 per cent decline in criminal matters before the High Court in the last six years.
The substantial reduction in backlog suggests progress in streamlining court proceedings and addressing pending cases.
Of particular significance is April 2024 marking the lowest number of cases in the high court since the May assizes of 2012, where only 72 cases were reported.
This signifies a significant achievement for the justice system, with the current backlog at its lowest point in 12 years.
The decline in the backlog reflects the collaborative efforts of judiciary officials, legal professionals, and other stakeholders in implementing measures to expedite court processes and ensure timely resolution of cases.
It underscores a commitment to upholding justice principles and providing efficient access to legal recourse for all citizens.
This development comes amidst concerns about the efficiency of the judicial system.
Pinnock acknowledged these concerns and challenges that persist within the judicial system, saying that the recent data offers optimism and serves as an encouraging indicator of progress.
“I know that the public is sometimes skeptical, critical of the criminal justice system (and) we have no difficulty with that because we are conscious that we serve the public, and so we have to be prepared to accept criticisms because there are things that need improvement…,” he said.
He went on to say: “There are so many persons to express gratitude to for their work in really getting the (Assizes) list to where it is now and we are really going to continue to work hard,” the Crown Counsel remarked.
Among the issues facing the court is the significant decline in the number of legal practitioners specialising in criminal law, a concern highlighted by
President of the Grenada Bar Association Francis Paul, who is calling for more attorneys to “appear before the High Court in its criminal jurisdiction.”
Paul emphasised that the criminal bar is where lawyers “build yourselves up as an advocate (and) “learn the rules of evidence) and practice procedure.”
He disclosed that discussions are in the pipeline to find innovative ways to nurture interest in criminal law, especially among lawyers.
One such initiative proposed by the Bar Association is to encourage attorneys admitted to the bar within the past five years to appear at the high court, specifically in its criminal jurisdiction, in a move that aims to provide young lawyers with courtroom experience and to address the shortage of legal representation in criminal cases.