Ayers-Caesar appeal deemed urgent

Justice of Appeal Andre des Vignes has deemed urgent an appeal filed by the State challenging a judge’s decision to give permission to former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar to have the court review the revocation of her appointment as a High Court judge.

Attorneys for the Attorney General have appealed Justice David Harris’ October 6 ruling in which he held Ayers-Caesar should be granted leave to have reviewed the decision of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission to seek her resignation on April 27; the decision of the JLSC to recommend to the President her appointment as a High Court judge be revoked as well as the alleged conduct of the JLSC to pressure her to resign her elevated position.

At an in-Chamber sitting yesterday, Des Vignes granted the AG’s application to have the State’s appeal be deemed urgent.

A hearing of the appeal has been set for February 13.

Ayers-Caesar, on April 12, was sworn in as a judge and presented with instruments of appointment.

On the second day of presiding in the Third Criminal Assizes in San Fernando, several accused people, a number of whom are on murder charges, rioted in the Port of Spain Magistrates Court.