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Justice Abel Responds to PM Barrow's Glancing Blow to Bench
posted (October 31, 2019)

Prime Minister Dean Barrow was a sort of special guest of the CAJO for day 1 of this conference. As you saw, he mostly had glowing remarks for the caliber of the judiciary across the Caribbean. There's was one portion of his address to the regional jurists, however, where it appeared that he threw a slight jab at the judiciary. That prompted Justice Abel to respond in like fashion. Here's that comment, and it's the response:

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"It is impossible in view of the different personalities of judges to lay down fixed rules of behaviour to govern every tick and every crotchet of every judge but surely there must be minimum standards of civility, attitude and courtesy that judges are obliged to display. All litigants, I don't say particularly government are entitled to respect. Certainly here in Belize though, complaints are heard, they're not legion but frequent enough concerning judicial conduct claim to sometimes boarder on the abusive. Because there are seemingly no ready avenues for dealing with judicial discourtesy, this has caused some people to ask the age old question, Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? But for purposes of today's intervention, I content myself merely with reminding that the confidence we must be able to maintain in our judges is confidence in the round, it must therefore, encompass as well propriety in matters of deportment and temperament. But let not that little cavil detract from what has been of most importance here today, celebrating the soaring heights that Caribbean jurists so often reach."

Hon. Courtney Abel - Supreme Justice of Belize
"Thank you very much Honourable Prime Minister for those very deeply felt remarks. And the comments about civility obviously are noted and we will obviously take our lead from politicians in that regard."

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