No word on Chief & Deputy Chief Magistrates appointments despite JSCs recommendations

More than five months after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) concluded interviews and recommended appointments for two of Guyana’s critical judicial posts, key stakeholders remain uninformed of the decision.

Back in January, the JSC had recommended that Senior Magistrate Judy Latchman be appointed new Chief Magistrate and Alisha George be Deputy Chief Magistrate. The recommendation came months after Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus was appointed puisne judge by the JSC.

But to date, none of the stakeholders, including the appointees themselves, have not been informed.

According to a senior judicial official, the prolonged silence and lack of action have sparked concern within legal circles over the apparent non-implementation of binding decisions taken by the JSC.

This publication understands that the Commission’s resolutions have yet to be formally communicated to the appointees, nor has a date for the official swearing-in ceremony been set.

The delay, now stretching into half a year, has left the current transitional leadership of the magistracy in limbo.

The JSC, as a constitutional body, has the exclusive authority to make judicial appointments and promotions below the level of the High Court.

In February 2024, nine new magistrates were sworn-in: Tuanna Hardy, Teriq Mohammed, Abigail Gibbs, Tamieka Clarke, Orinthia Schmidt, Shivani Lalaram, Michelle Matthias, Omadatt Chandan, and Ravindra Mohabir.

At the time, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had noted that the reconstitution of the Judicial Service Commission in July 2023 paved the way for these critical judicial appointments to be made.

Also in 2024, 10 persons were recommended by JSC for appointment as new Judges, and received their instruments of appointment from President Dr Irfaan Ali. Those appointed were Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus; Peter Hugh; Zamilla Ally-Seepaul; Deborah Kumar; Nicola Pierre; Priscilla Chandra-Hanif; Hessaun Yasin; Joy Persaud; Nigel Niles and Jacquiline Josiah Graham. In October 2024, the JSC invited “suitably qualified persons” to apply for the positions of Chief Magistrate and Commissioner of Title.

The JSC was appointed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on July 14, 2023. The Commission members are Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; Retired Justice Carl Singh and Retired Justice Beasraj Singh (BS) Roy. The Chancellor sits as Chairman of the Commission.