Three new magistrates were recently sworn in - and they're all non Belizeans. Tonight, the appointments have the Association of Defense Attorneys crying foul. They refer to this as the "foreignization of the Belize Judiciary". A release says, quote "THE Judicial and Legal Services Commission … has not appointed any Belizean as a Judge of our High Court in the past five years during which all vacancies have been filled. Several of these appointees were not even Judges or Magistrates in their home countries. This, despite the availability of Belizean Senior Magistrates, Magistrates, and retired Magistrates …There is also a pool of some two hundred lawyers of which many would willingly serve their country. While our Association welcomes our brothers and sisters from the Caribbean and the Commonwealth countries, charity begins at home where there are competent, qualified and experienced legal professionals available." End quote.
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