XN000022-1976-04-22 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1976

SECURITY OF TENURE FOR DISTRICT JUDGES ******

IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT IN SEPTEMBER 1974 AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THAT A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE JUDICIARY WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

A SEPARATE COURT OF APPEAL HAS SINCE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND A JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND BEGUN WORK.

ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR GEOFFREY BRIGGS, AND ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT WAS THAT SECURITY OF TENURE SHOULD BE CONFERRED ON DISTRICT JUDGES. ALTHOUGH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE REMOVAL OF A DISTRICT JUDGE FROM OFFICE HAS NEVER IN PRACTICE ARISEN, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT FORMAL PROVISION IS DESIRABLE TO EMPHASISE THE INDEPENDENCE OF DISTRICT JUDGES,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HER MAJESTY IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT, THE EFFECT OF WHICH WILL BE TO CONFER ON DISTRICT JUDGES SIMILAR PROTECTION TO THAT WHICH IS ALREADY CONFERRED BY THE LETTERS PATENT ON SUPREME COURT JUDGES.

THE RESULT WILL BE THAT SUPREME COURT JUDGES AND DISTRICT JUDGES CAN ONLY BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AFTER INVESTIGATION BY A SPECIAL TRIBUNAL AND REFERENCE TO THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

THE AMENDMENT TO THE LETTERS PATENT APPROVED BY HER MAJESTY IN COUNCIL ALSO MAKES CHANGES TO THE RETIREMENT AGE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.

IN THE CASE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE, THE AGE FOR COMPULSORY RETIREMENT IS RAISED FROM 62 TO 65.

IN THE CASE OF OTHER SUPREME COURT JUDGES, COMPRISING THE JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEAL, DIFFERENT PROVISION IS MADE.

IF A JUDGE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE BEYOND THE AGE OF 62, THE MATTER WILL GO BEFORE THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE GOVERNOR WILL THEN TRANSMIT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GOVERNOR MAY, ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF A SECRETARY OF STATE, EXTEND THE TERM OF OFFICE OF A JUDGE FOR UP TO THREE YEARS.

IT IS HOPED THAT AS A RESULT OF THESE AMENDMENTS, THE ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE OF SENIOR JUDGES WILL REMAIN" AVAILABLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONGER PERIOD.