Lawyers maintain threat to withdraw criminal court services for one week starting Monday

Defence lawyers are maintaining their threat to withdraw services from Jamaica’s criminal courts for one week, beginning Monday, September 28, as their concerns over mandatory minimum sentences under the firearms laws remain unresolved.

The planned withdrawal is expected to continue through Friday, October 2, following a nearly two-hour meeting on Thursday between representatives of the Jamaican Bar Association (JAMBAR), the Advocates’ Association of Jamaica (AAJ) and Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Delroy Chuck.

AAJ President Tamika Harris said the association welcomed the meeting but was disappointed that no timeline was given for legislative amendments.