‘Speak to the people in court’

Retired Senior Parish Court Judge, Sheron Barnes, has urged local judges to avoid the ‘high-handed’ approach to justice and instead share with persons the reasoning behind their decisions handed down in courts.

Barnes, who retired in July after serving on the Bench since 2009, said that those in the justice system must always remember that “it is the people that we serve”.

“Justice is even-handed and fair. Fair for the victims and fair for the persons charged, fair for the plaintiffs and fair for the defendants.

“You must find a balance and it is important that under the heading ‘you serve the people’, you speak to the people in court and let them understand why you come to the decisions you come to. You can’t have a high-handed approach that you are above the people you serve, because it is the people’s court,” she emphasised.

Judge Barnes was honoured at a retirement party hosted on July 27, by Positive Action People (PAP), a local group of which she is an active member. She was lauded for her sterling contribution to the administration of justice. Glowing tributes were paid to her for her kindness, contributions to the group and to the welfare of others.

Among those paying tribute were attorneys-at-law Melrose Reid, Shelly-Ann Beckford Louden, Carolyn Wright, Vaughn Bignall, Herbert McKenzie, and PAP member, Toni Spicer.

LOVE FOR OTHERS

Barnes’ childhood friend Cheryl Hutchinson Hamilton and family members Kamala Ray Raggie, David Williams and his wife Dr Olivia Bravo Williams also spoke of her special love for others, including family members.

They commended her for always going the extra mile to help and encourage both adults and children to be good citizens and portray a positive attitude at all times.

A citation was presented to her by the group which read in part: “You have successfully demonstrated your legal craft as prosecutor, defence counsel and judge. And the Court of Appeal of Jamaica has more than once upheld your judgments, which speaks illustriously to your knowledge of the law.”

Barnes, who was also appointed in 2019 and 2022 to act as a Supreme Court Judge, said that she was grateful for the opportunity she received to administer justice, and to further serve the people of her country. She referred to the strides which the courts have made over the years and expressed gratitude to have been a part of the process.

Recalling her journey, she said it had always been her childhood ambition to become an attorney-at-law and when she saw the opportunity, she applied and was accepted to the Norman Manley Law School. She graduated in 2001.

She was next employed as a clerk of the courts and later appointed a Crown counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Barnes later went into private practice and in 2009 she was appointed a resident magistrate (now parish court judge).

A past student of Montego Bay High School and Church Teachers’ College, she also holds a degree in mass communications. She did stints in teaching and in the media before attending law school.

Pressed as to her future plans, Barnes said she would be doing some legal work at her own pace, and spending quality time with family.

editorial@gleanerjm.com