HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov 18, CMC – A three-day conference, bringing together an estimated 100 judicial officers from across the Caribbean, including chief justices, judges and magistrates, gets underway here on Thursday.
The eighth Biennial Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) Conference will be held under theme “Justice 360: Holistic Approaches to the Administration of Justice”.
The event is being hosted by the Judiciary of Bermuda with support from the Bermuda government and the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
“Caribbean judiciaries are facing increasingly complex issues both jurisprudentially and administratively. In addition, what it means to be a judiciary is evolving,” said CAJO chair and CCJ judge, Peter Jamadar.
“Court-user-centric approaches informed by human rights standards, the impact of technology, including artificial intelligence, and the central importance of judicial officers’ and judiciary staff wellness, as all integral to judicial and judiciary excellence, have changed how court systems operate and interact with stakeholders.
“This CAJO Conference recognises these changes and responds with sessions that facilitate discussions on holistic approaches to the administration of justice in the Caribbean. I anticipate an engaged and engaging conference, robust discussions, and many constructive takeaways,” he added.
CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders will deliver the feature address at the conference on the topic “Celebrating Caribbean Jurisprudence: Intersections between Law, Politics, and Society”.
The conference organisers said that plenary and breakout sessions will be conducted on artificial intelligence in Caribbean judiciaries, management of high-profile matters, breaking cycles of violence against women and girls, conflict management within the judiciary, and many other issues pertinent to courts in the region.
“The programme is designed to strengthen participant engagement by learning through doing, spanning two and a half days. By engaging different teaching-learning models, such as small group work, panel discussions, lecturettes, and question-and-answer segments, the programme offers participants a variety of session topics and ways to interact with the subject material.
“Fully embracing the wellness theme, this year’s programme includes a dedicated segment that will offer participants practical tools to aid their wellbeing. Also, the use of music and performance has been added not only to stimulate the senses but also to utilise creative outlets as a means of consolidating learning,” they added.
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