Brief Timeline of Legal Points of Interest

1498 - Trinidad claimed for Spain by Christopher Columbus.

1532 - Trinidad became a colony of Spain.

1783 - "Libro Becerro de Poblacion"/The Royal Cedula of Population - influx of French Catholic planters from neighbouring islands.

1797 - The British, led by Sir Ralph Abercromby, who were at war with Spain and France, captured Trinidad in February, 1797. Sir Thomas Picton becomes the first Governor.

1802 - Treaty of Amiens, by which Spain officially ceded the island of Trinidad.

1807 - Abolition of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

1814 - Tobago permanently acquired by the British in 1814 - by Treaty of Paris.

1822 - Order in Council of 16th September, 1822, establishing the Court of first instance of Civil Jurisdiction and the Rules for the court of first instance of Civil Jurisdiction of 28th February, 1823 [Trinidad. Laws of Trinidad, 1831-1848; the Orders in Council and Ordinances of the Council of Government. Compiled by the Commissioners appointed in the Colony. London : James Bain.]

1831 - Order in Council of 20th June, 1831 - provides "that the first or presiding judge of the said court shall be called and bear the style and title of Chief Justice of Trinidad" [Laws of Trinidad, 1831-1848, supra]

1843 - Order in Council authorizing the Governor and Council to legislate respecting the Administration of Justice and to repeal anterior Orders in Council - 10 November, 1843.

1844 - Trial by jury introduced. Ordinance No. 11 of 1844 - An Ordinance to introduce Trial by Jury, and to make other provisions for assimilating the Laws of this Colony relating to Criminal Offences to the Law of England in like cases [came into operation from 10th October, 1844] [Section 18].

1848 - Ordinance No. 4 of 1848 - An ordinance to provide for the better administration of Justice in civil cases, and to extend and define the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Civil Court [passed 1st March, 1848].

1848 - Ordinance No. 4 of 1848 - Section.3 Repeals the Law of Spain relating to actions, forms of procedure and costs.

1848 - Ordinance No. 9 of 1848 - an ordinance to regulate the mode of proceedings in Criminal cases.

1879 - Ordinance No. 28 of 1879 - an ordinance for the constitution of one Supreme Court and for other purposes relating to the better Administration of Justice. Short title : The Judicature Ordinance, 1879.

1887 - Trinidad and Tobago Act 1887 [50 & 51 Vict. c. 44] - An Act to enable Her Majesty by Order in Council to unite the Colonies of Trinidad and Tobago into one Colony.

1888 - Royal Order in Council; uniting the colonies of Trinidad and Tobago, 17th November, 1888 with effect from 1st January, 1889.

1892 - Judicial Inquiry Commission. A commission issued under the Trinidad and Tobago Ordinance No. 2 of 1892. Enquiry into charges against the senior puisne judge and the Administration of Justice in the colony.

1898 - Royal Order in Council constituting Tobago a ward of Trinidad, 20th October, 1898. Came into force on 1st January, 1899.

1914 - Judicature [Amendment] Ordinance, 1914 [No. 23 of 1914] - s.2 - common law doctrines of equity, statute law deemed to be laws of Trinidad since 1st March, 1848 provision re-enacted in the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, 1962 , now Chap.4:01, s.12].

1919 - The West Indian Court of Appeal Act, 1919 [9 & 10 Geo. 5 c.47] - An Act to provide for the establishment of a Court of Appeal for certain of His Majesty's Colonies in the West Indies (15th August, 1919). The Act came into force on the 1st July, 1920.

1956 - Internal self-government.

1956 - Report on the system of administration of justice in the Colony – Chairman of the Commission – Sir Albert Napier. A minority report was also presented by M.T.I. Julien, who was a member of the Committee.

1958 - Inauguration of the Federation of the West Indies.

1962 - Federation of the West Indies dissolved.

1962 - Trinidad and Tobago became Independent on 31st August, 1962. [Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act, 1962 (10 & 11 Eliz. 2 c.54)].

1972 - Report of the Commission of Enquiry into the machinery and administration of justice in each of the magisterial districts of Trinidad and Tobago. Chairman: Mr. Justice Karl de la Bastide, Justice of Appeal.

1976 - Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on 1st August, 1976 [Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago Republic Act, 1976 (11 & 12 Eliz. 2 c.54).

1998 - Department of Court Administration created. July 1998.

1992 - Report of the review team appointed by Cabinet to advise on systems to reduce existing delays in the administration of justice. Chairman: Dennis Gurley.

2000 - Report of the commission appointed to enquire into and report and make recommendations on the machinery for the administration of justice in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Chairman: Lord Mackay of Clashfern.

2005 - New Civil Proceedings Rules took effect on September 16, 2005.