The Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project is supporting the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the CCJ Academy for Law in reviewing and finalizing a Manual that is being developed on the CCJ’s Original Jurisdiction Referral Process. The working meeting will be held on Friday, September 6, 2019, from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm at the CCJ’s headquarters in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago.
The Referral aspect of the CCJ’s Original Jurisdiction – under Article 214 of the RTC and Article XIV of the CCJ Agreement – has, to date, never been engaged. The Court has, as a result, resolved to develop a Manual which will provide guidance on referral to the CCJ from national courts and tribunals of domestic disputes that concern the interpretation or application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).
Once finalized, this material will be made available to judges, legal practitioners and other stakeholders in the region in the hope that the guidance offered will assist in ensuring that the full benefit of the Original Jurisdiction is derived by the people of the Caribbean Community.
The Manual is being drafted by Professor Alina Kaczorowska-Ireland of The University of the West Indies (Cave Hill). Professor Kaczorowska-Ireland will facilitate the meeting, which will also receive contributions by Professors Karen Alter (Northwestern University) and Laurence Helfer (Duke University).
