Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

5.   Composition of the Family Court

1.  

   (1)   There shall be a magistrate of the Family Court, to whose office section 91 of the Constitution of Saint Lucia (which relates to appointment, etc., of judicial officers) shall apply, who shall preside as Chairperson of the Family Court.

1.  

   (2)   There shall be 2 lay persons who shall be social workers as members of the Family Court, one of whom shall be a woman, and who shall be consulted by the magistrate on any questions other than a question of law before the decision of the Family Court is given.

1.  

   (3)   The lay persons mentioned in subsection (2) shall be appointed by the Public Service Commission.

1.  

   (4)   In relation to exercising its jurisdiction and to the execution of other functions of its office, the Family Court shall, without prejudice to anything provided by or under this Act, have with the necessary modifications like authority, powers, privileges and immunities as appertain or would, but for this Act, appertain to the office of a magistrate.

1.  

   (5)   The Family Court may sit at any time and at any place for the trial of any matter whatsoever, within its jurisdiction.

1.  

   (6)   The Minister may, upon the recommendation of the Chief Justice, by order amend subsection (1) so as to increase the number of magistrates, and any order under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be subject to negative resolution of Parliament.

1.  

   (7)   The Family Court is duly constituted despite any vacancy in the office of a lay person appointed under this Act.