State attorneys are seeking permission to attend a special general meeting of the Law Association where a motion calling for the resignation of the Chief Justice and members of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) over the appointment and subsequent resignation of Marcia Ayers-Caesar as a high court judge will be heard.
The request was made in a letter sent to the association’s president Douglas Mendes, SC, by Sharmaine Williams, the secretary of the Association of Law Officers of T&T, on Wednesday.
Williams referred to a statutory interpretation lawsuit filed by her organisation in 2012, in which it was decided that attorneys employed permanently by the State could not vote in Law Association elections and on resolutions as they are considered non-financial members because they are not required to pay annual renewal fees to practice.
Williams referred to the opinion of Appellate Judge Rajendra Narine, who wrote the judgment and said that the attorneys were still allowed to attend meetings and make contributions despite not having the right to vote.
While Williams did not explicitly say so in her correspondence, the T&T Guardian understands that the members of the group are seeking to voice their opinions at the meeting as they, like judges and magistrates, are appointed and promoted by the JLSC.
“In accordance with the guidance of the Court of Appeal’s decision as noted above, we have advised our members to attend the scheduled special general meeting. We would therefore appreciate that all courtesies be extended accordingly,” Williams said in a letter.
Contacted for a response to the letter, Law Association vice president Rajiv Persad said that the organisation had received the letter but had not made a decision as Mendes was overseas.
The meeting scheduled for June 1, at the Convocation Hall at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain was set by the association after a petition expressing a loss of confidence in the CJ and the JLSC over the Ayers-Caesar situation was signed by over 60 practitioners. Ayers-Caesar was appointed to the post in April 12, but resigned two weeks later after their was protest by accused persons whose cases before her were left incomplete upon her elevation.
Several senior attorneys have spoken out on the issue and called on the CJ and the JLSC members to resign. A lawsuit has also been threatened questioning the composition of the JLSC.
On Thursday, the Judiciary announced that all 53 cases left by Ayers-Caesar would have to be restarted.
