The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is a superior court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS),John Hatchard (ed.) Directory of Commonwealth Law Schools 2003-2004. Cavendish Publishing. 2003. ; page 122. including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat). It has unlimited jurisdiction in each member State.
History The ECSC was established in 1967 by the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order No. 223 of 1967. In relation to Grenada, the Court is styled "the Supreme Court of Grenada and the West Indies Associated States". See section 105 of the Grenada Constitution.
Functions The functions of the ECSC are as follows: To interpret and apply the laws of the various member states of the OECS; To decide cases of both civil and criminal matters; To hear appeals.
Appeals from the ECSC Appeals from the ECSC can be lodged in defined cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom (in cases from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat) or the Caribbean Court of Justice in Trinidad and Tobago (for cases from Dominica and Saint Lucia).
Composition
Judges To be a judge or master of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, a person must have served as a judge in a Commonwealth jurisdiction or be qualified to act as a lawyer in a Commonwealth jurisdiction. An appointee does not need to be a national, judge, or lawyer of a country within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Chief Justice is appointed by the King of the United Kingdom by Letters Patent as advised by the Lord Chancellor. Other judges are appointed on behalf of the King by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
High Court Judges and Masters are assigned to reside in and hear cases from a specific member state. It is common for judges to be asked to work in countries other than their home state. Judges are only occasionally assigned to reside in Montserrat and Anguilla—because of the small population of these countries, judges from the other jurisdictions hear cases that arise from these two jurisdictions. The Court of Appeal is itinerant and travels to the various countries to hear appeals.
Judges have life tenure but Justices of Appeal must retire when they are 65 and High Court Judges must retire when they are 62. Extensions of up to three years may be granted by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission only if all of the states agree to such an extension.
Current composition Name Home state Position Appointed to current positionMargaret Price Findlay Chief Justice 2026 (acting since 2025)Gerard Farara Justice of Appeal [Ag.] 2020Trevor Ward Justice of Appeal 2022Margaret Price Findlay Justice of Appeal 2022Vicki Ann Ellis Justice of Appeal 2022Eddy Ventose Justice of Appeal 2024Esco Henry Justice of Appeal 2024
High Court Judges
Ermin Moise
Nicola Petra Byer Ann-Marie Smith Jan Drysdale Rene Williams Tunde Ademola Bakre [Ag.]
Colin Williams Jacqueline Josiah-Graham
Paula Gilford Raulston Glasgow Shawn Innocent Agnes Actie
Dale Francis Fitzpatrick
Iain Charles Morley, KC Patrick Thompson Jr. (Nevis Circuit) Tamara Gill
Wynante Adrien-Roberts Cadie St. Rose- Albertini Vivian Georgis Taylor-Alexander Kimberly Cenac-Phulgence Rohan Phillip Alvin Pariagsingh Rechanne Browne
Brian Cottle Birnie Stephenson-Brooks Rickie Burnett Richard Floyd [Ag.] Gertel Thom [Ag.]
Angelica Teelucksingh Sonya Young Gerhard Wallbank [Ag.] Paul Webster [Ag.]
Chief Justices Name Home state DatesAllen Montgomery Lewis 1967–1972P. Cecil Lewis (acting) 1972–1975Maurice Davis 1975–1980Neville Peterkin 1981–1983Neville Berridge (acting) 1983–1984Lascelles Robotham 1984–1991Vincent Floissac 1991–1996Charles Michael Dennis Byron 1996–2004 (acting 1996–1999)Adrian Saunders (acting) 2004–2005Brian George Keith Alleyne (acting) 2005–2008Hugh Anthony Rawlins 2008–2012Janice Pereira 2012–2024Mario Michel (acting) 2024–2025Margaret Price Findlay 2026–present (acting 2025–2026)
Location The Headquarters of the ECSC is in Castries, Saint Lucia, where it is located on the second floor of the Heraldine Rock Building, Block B, on the Waterfront. The building houses the Justices of Appeal's chambers, the Court of Appeal Registry, the Judicial Education Institute, Library, and the Administrative Services.
In addition, there are Court Offices in the nine Member States, which house the chambers of the High Court Judges and the offices of the High Court Registry. Each High Court Registry is headed by a legally trained Registrar who provides the necessary administrative and legal support for the functioning of the High Court.
Notable people
David Courtenay Harris, High Court Judge
See also Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) Caribbean Court of Justice
References
External links Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court website