2019

The eighth edition of the JEITT’s Distinguished Jurist Lecture Series was delivered by Dr Wayne Frederick at the Convocation Hall, Hall of Justice, Port of Spain on 16th April 2019 on the topic A Journey of Transformation.

Dr Frederick’s presentation harnessed legal principles from theoretical notions of social justice, intertwining them into a captivating argument for the true role of law. He focused on the honourable role that Howard University played in challenging a racist social and legal system. Dr Frederick’s treatise also contained noteworthy lessons for the criminal justice system, as he touched on the role of judges and lawyers in promoting just laws. Following the lecture, there was a Question and Answer segment most ably moderated by The Honourable the Chief Justice.

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2017

The seventh edition of the JEITT’s Distinguished Jurist Lecture Series was delivered by Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine at the Convocation Hall, Hall of Justice, Port of Spain on 15th March 2017 on the topic The Rule of Law v Ruling by Laws: Promoting Development in Caribbean Societies. In this Lecture, Professor Antoine sought to challenge conventional understandings of the legal paradigm. This was mainly accomplished by encouraging the reformulation of how the law and core legal values are interpreted and applied, through an expanded understanding of a developmental application of human rights. In the Conversations segment of the evening Sunity Maharaj, along with Professor Antoine, chaired audience participation with key contributions from Justice Rolston Nelson, Dr Terrence Farrell, Ms Roberta Clarke, and Mr David Abdulah.

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DJL 2017 PUBLICATION

2016

The sixth edition of the Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago's Distinguished Jurist Lecture Series was delivered by Professor Richard Drayton PhD FRHistS on Wednesday 2nd March 2016 at the Convocation Hall, Hall of Justice, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Professor Drayton’s topic was “Whose Constitution? Law, Justice and History in the Caribbean”, and it was met with widespread interest from various sectors of society. In his lecture, Professor Drayton explores the lack of possession surrounding our Independence constitutions and, furthermore, examines “what underpins law and politics: how we live together, and how we imagine ourselves living together, here, on these rocks, in this sea.” In doing so, he encourages his audience to observe the connections, and interdependency, of past and present, analyse the structures of government, and observe the constitution as political order.

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DJL 2016 PUBLICATION

2015

2015: Dame Linda Dobbs D.B.E., the Distinguished Jurist for the Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago’s Fifth Distinguished Jurist Lecture, delivered the lecture “Who’s Afraid of Human Rights? The Judge’s Dilemma” at the Convocation Hall, Hall of Justice, Port of Spain, Trinidad on May 13th, 2015.
In this lecture, Dame Linda plays devil’s advocate, exploring the legislative avenues that Trinidad and Tobago must take in order to achieve “developed nation” status by 2020. She first delves into her UK experience with an overview of the history behind the introduction of UK’s 1998 Human Rights Act. Following this, she looks at four specific areas where Trinidad and Tobago’s national legislation does not provide protection for various classes of citizens: capital punishment, corporal punishment, imprisonment of young people, and sexual orientation.

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DJL 2015 PUBLICATION

2014

On the 10th July 2014, Dr. Leighton Jackson delivered the Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago's fourth Distinguished Jurist Lecture. Dr. Jackson's lecture explored the application of the Chinese philosophical concept of the Yin and Yang in relation to the tension between stability and progress in the constitutions of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
While he closely examines issues such as the post-colonial power model, the Caribbean education system, and present leadership styles, Dr. Jackson proposes a shift of perspective in Commonwealth Caribbean society's relationship to stability and progress as forces that must exist in harmony instead of opposition in order to be truly progressive.

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DJL 2014 PUBLICATION

2013

In this third Distinguished Jurist Lecture delivered on the 11th July 2013, Sir Marston Gibson K.A., Chief Justice of Barbados, explores the issue of the relevance of the jury system to the contemporary needs of Caribbean society.
Sir Marston gives a historical analysis of the development of the jury system, outlines its challenges and opportunities in the context of modern Caribbean society, and suggests a few alternatives.

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DJL 2013 PUBLICATION

2012

This lecture by the Honourable Justice Adrian Saunders, delivered on the 12th July 2012, examines the role of the courts of appeal in the Caribbean as the final indigenous court. The issue is explored with great clarity and probing insights, mixed with a measure of refreshing story and anecdote. It argues affirmatively and compellingly for the relevance, role and responsibility of courts of appeal in the development of their societies.

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DJL 2012 PUBLICATION

2011

On the 29th September, 2011, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Q.C., became the inaugural speaker at the Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago's Distinguished Jurist Lecture Series. Addressing such issues as "A Shared Legal Heritage" and "A Caribbean Supreme Court," Sir Shridath explores various landmark cases and the overall historical process that led to the creation of a regional jurisprudence.

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DJL 2011 PUBLICATION