Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

5.   Appointment of judges

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    (1)   The Chief Justice shall be appointed by Her Majesty by Letters Patent and the Justices of Appeal and the Puisne Judges shall be appointed on behalf of Her Majesty by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

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    (2)   A person shall not be qualified to be appointed—

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      (a)     as Chief Justice or a Justice of Appeal unless—

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        (i)     he or she has been for a period or periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 5 years a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such a court; or

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        (ii)     he or she is qualified to practise as an advocate in such a court, and has so practised, for a period of, or periods amounting in the aggregate to, not less than 15 years;

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      (b)     as a Puisne Judge unless—

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        (i)     he or she is or has been a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such a court; or

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        (ii)     he or she is qualified to practise as an advocate in such a court, and has so practised, for a period of or periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 10 years.

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    (3)   For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section references in that subsection to a period or periods during which a person has practised as an advocate in any such court as is mentioned in that subsection shall be construed as including a period or periods during which a person—

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      (a)     has been serving in the office of judge of any such court; or

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      (b)     after having become qualified to practise as an advocate in any such court, has been serving in a public office in some part of the Commonwealth the functions of which include appearing as an advocate in any such a court or in the office of magistrate, or registrar of a court, in some part of the Commonwealth.