Antigua and Barbuda to Make Judge-Alone Trials Permanent

1. This is a retrogressive and dangerous move and I am surprised that the Bar Association and other members of the legal fraternity have not come out strongly in their objection to this. Jury trials are a fundermental and important part of our democracy. Jury trials prevents tyranny. Tyranny exist when absolute power is vested in a single ruler such as a judge. Jury trials provides an opportunity for ordinary citizens to participate in the process of governing. It offer the voice of the people to the civil and criminal justice systems. Anyone who is accused of a crime in this country should have the right to ask for a jury of his peers to decide on his guilt or innocence. NOT JUST A JUDGE. I think that this decision is taking us down a regrettable and dangerous path.

   • “The Chief Justice applauded Antigua and Barbuda for being the first in the O.E.C.S. jurisdiction to have adopted the law, causing the jurisdiction to join Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago in the region.
     Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States also have Judge-alone trials by legislation.”
     You know Audley, you are tryng your best to a voice of some intellect. You are invited to voice your opinion on Twin Islands Media. But the more you speak the more you are showing up your ignorance on some subject or even on your comprehension on a particular topic.
     Just read the article carefully before you response. Are you telling us that all those countries that have ‘Judge Alone” trials have gone though a dangerous path. And nowhere in the article does it state that the accuse does not have a choice. Do you know how hard it is to put a jury together in a small society like ours. Almost everyone is related. Soemtimes you have the same people call out twice in a year to sit on the jury. And in the appellet courts there are only judges no juries. So again even is you don’t agree with the judgement in the lower court you have the right to appeal. Check the US Legal System and see if you always have the right to appeal. Stanford appeal was denied each time he tried.

   • I absolutely agree with you Audley Phillip.

2. I agree Audley Phillip

3. I also concur.

4. @Still Waiting and @concur.
   The first duty of a man/woman is to “Think for Him or Herself.”

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