New law year opens with promise of improved service

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) formally opened its 2026 law year yesterday, January 12, committing to improving the efficiency, accessibility, and overall quality of justice delivered across its member states and territories.

Acting Chief Justice Margaret Price Findlay, in a ceremonial sitting in Dominica, addressing judges, legal practitioners and regional officials, said the new law year marked not only the start of another judicial cycle but also a moment for reflection on the court’s institutional responsibilities and future direction. 

She described the occasion as an opportunity “to reflect, to take stock of who we are as an institution, and more importantly, who we must continually strive to be.”

The ceremony was held under the theme Justice that endures, anchored in independence, strengthened through trust, which the Acting Chief Justice said captured the relationship between judicial independence and public confidence. 

She noted that independence must be actively preserved through transparency, accountability and professional culture, adding that “it is the active and conscientious exercise of the judiciary’s institutional responsibility that nurtures public trust.” 

Price-Findlay outlined a series of initiatives to improve court services, including technological upgrades, procedural reforms, and infrastructure development. She confirmed that the court has begun procuring an upgraded version of its FTR Justice Cloud transcription system to improve the accuracy of court records and the timeliness of judgments. The ECSC is also developing a formal policy to govern the responsible use of artificial intelligence by judges and legal practitioners, she said. 

Revamp of the court’s website

The Acting Chief Justice also announced plans for a comprehensive revamp of the court’s website to improve functionality and public access to information, describing the court’s digital presence as “an essential gateway to information, services, and public understanding.” 

On infrastructure, the Acting Chief Justice highlighted the completion of the ECSC’s purpose-built headquarters after nearly two decades, calling it “a powerful symbol of a people’s trust in the judiciary,” she stated. 

She also pointed to reforms such as judge-only criminal trials, revisions to criminal procedure rules, expanded use of mediation, and continued judicial training as part of a broader effort to reduce backlogs and strengthen service delivery.

Price-Findlay said the endurance of the court depended on renewed commitment and collaboration, expressing confidence that the ECSC would continue to deliver “justice that endures, anchored in independence, and strengthened through trust.”