Justice Mario Michel; Justice Ermin Moise, Mrs. Keesha Carty, Ms. Erica Edwards
and Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett
Anguilla marked a significant milestone in its judicial system with the launch of the criminal module of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s (ECSC) e-Litigation Portal on October 22nd, 2024. The event, held at the Anguilla House of Assembly, was attended by high-ranking officials, including Her Majesty the Governor, Ms. Julia Crouch, Hon. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, Hon. Deputy Governor Mr. Perin Bradley, Hon. Attorney General Mr. Kurt De Freitas, His Lordship Hon. Justice Mario Michel, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, Hon. Mr. Merrick Richardson, police officers, and staff of the ECSC. The media briefing, moderated by Mr. Dwaymian Brissette, Information Services and Communications Manager, unveiled the new criminal proceedings filing system for both the High Court and Magistrates’ Court.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Brissette emphasized the importance of the day, noting the significant progress the ECSC litigation system has made in modernizing court access, “The ECSC litigation court has revolutionized and significantly improved how the court provides access to justice to its stakeholders at all levels in each and every state and territory. Today, we are taking another significant step forward by launching the ECSC e-Litigation Court for criminal proceedings in Anguilla.”
Mrs. Keesha Carty, Executive Member of the Anguilla Bar Association, also delivered remarks, reflecting on the transformation brought by the e-Litigation Portal. She shared her initial apprehensions about the system’s technical aspects, but lauded the team for their patience and the portal’s user-friendly design. “The portal is convenient, speedy, efficient, and cost-effective for clients,” she stated, adding that the Anguilla Bar Association stands ready to support any further resources needed to ensure a smooth transition.
Ms. Erica L.P. Edwards, Senior Crown Counsel (Criminal), pointed out the need for reform in Anguilla’s criminal justice system, acknowledging that while progress has been made with the introduction of legislation like the Administration of Justice Special Provisions Act and the Child Justice Act, there is still much to be done. She stressed the importance of adapting reforms to suit Anguilla’s unique context, noting, “We cannot and should not just implement rules and legislation based on what another jurisdiction has done. Let us work together to ensure that the criminal justice system in Anguilla is one that is fair, transparent, efficient, and effective.”
The highlight of the event was the feature remarks by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Mario Michel, Chief Justice of the ECSC. He underscored the significance of this fourth and final phase of the portal’s implementation in Anguilla, which now includes criminal cases. “This marks for us, at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, the culmination of the implementation of the e-litigation portal in Anguilla, ushering in the complete digitization of the filing and serving processes for all types of cases in the court system.”
Justice Michel highlighted the portal’s efficiency, noting how it has transformed the filing process for civil cases since its introduction in 2018. Now, with the criminal module in place, lawyers can file documents anytime and anywhere, eliminating the need for physical service of documents in most cases. He urged all Anguillan lawyers to migrate their previously filed cases to the portal, which will streamline case management and enhance the system’s disaster resilience, particularly important for a region frequently affected by hurricanes.
The launch of the ECSC’s e-Litigation Portal criminal module is seen as a critical step in modernizing Anguilla’s judicial system, ensuring greater access to justice and creating a more efficient, transparent, and disaster-resilient court system.
This initiative reinforces Anguilla’s commitment to embracing technology for the betterment of its people and legal institutions.
