I welcome this opportunity to introduce you to the redesigned and upgraded website of the Supreme Court of The Bahamas and the Magistrates Court. We have sought to make this portal more informative and relevant for persons using the courts as we move to improve the service platform throughout the Court system. It was necessary to modernize the design, functionality and the features of the website to better reflect the current standards and priorities of the Judiciary. I trust that you find it informative and helpful as you conduct your business with the courts in The Bahamas.
The Judiciary in the Bahamas is committed to the effective implementation of a modern technology platform in the delivery of our core services to the public, as we discharge our duty to fairly and independently dispense justice to all persons before the courts in a timely manner. In doing so we will bring a new focus on serving the public through the efficient utilization of electronic applications across all departments of the Judiciary. Our intention is to enhance user friendly access to the administration of justice and to reduce the disposition cycle of cases.
We intend to use this website to disseminate important information to members of the Bar, users of the courts and the general public as we roll out new initiatives and projects pursuant to our program of reform and modernization. Our objective is to make this website an integral part of the public’s interaction with the court system. We invite your comments and feedback on the content, utility and design of our new website. As is often the case with this type of portal, it is a work in progress and we will continue to post additional information and introduce new features in the future.
It bears reminding all of us that under our constitutional framework, the Judiciary is one of the three branches of Government, equal to but fully independent of the other two branches. It is NOT a government department or a Ministry. This is not merely a theory to be read about in text books but a vital and preeminent principle of high constitutional importance which must be reflected and fortified in the way in which the Judiciary discharges all of its functions and conducts its administrative, operational and financial affairs. It is axiomatic that the independence and overall efficient operation of the Courts are critical to our free and open society.
I trust that our re-launched website will be an effective platform to connect and interact with court users and the general public as we seek to advance the administration of justice in the Bahamas.
Brian M. Moree QC
Chief Justice