JSC advertises for Judges, Magistrates, Deputy Registrar

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which was formed three months ago, has extended an invitation to eligible individuals to apply for open positions in the judiciary and magistracy.
For the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Courts in each of the three counties and the Court of Appeal, the JSC is looking to appoint Puisne Judges, Commissioners of Title (Land Court Judges), and a Deputy Registrar for the High Court in Berbice.
Persons applying for the position of Puisne Judge must be, or have been, a Judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth; or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such a court; or be qualified for admission to practise as an Attorney-at-Law in the courts of Guyana or an Attorney-at-Law in a court in any other part of the Commonwealth having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal cases or matters.
Applicants must also be qualified for not less than seven years to practise in such a court.
Applicants should have a common law background and knowledge and experience in criminal practice and procedure, and civil practice and procedure, the JSC noted.
Applicants are also expected to possess a high level of personal integrity, and if successful, are expected to subscribe to the Supreme Court of Judicature Guyana Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates, a notice from the JSC said.
A Puisne Judge shall hold office until he/she attains 65 years, and the basic salary for this position is $1,425,065 monthly, inclusive of the following allowances: duty – $1,300; entertainment- $1,200; housing – $25,000; commuted – $30,000; and chauffeur – $70,000.
Telephone (local calls only) and electricity are provided at the expense of the Government.
A Puisne Judge is also entitled to these additional benefits: 24-hour security services; economy return airfare to London with spouse (biannually); chauffeur gratuity payable at intervals of six months at a rate of 22.5% on chauffeur allowance; chauffeur uniform allowance at a rate of $5,600 annually; and duty-free concession for a vehicle up to 2000cc.
Applicants applying for the position of Commissioner of Title must be an Attorney-at-Law admitted to practise law in Guyana or any Commonwealth country with at least seven years of experience, or a Magistrate serving in Guyana or any Commonwealth country with at least five years of experience.
A Land Court Judge holds office until he/she reaches 55, and is paid $1,167,923 monthly, together with allowances: utility $20,000, special $20,000, commuted $5,388 and duty-free concession for a vehicle to a maximum of 2000cc.
A lawyer with at least five years of experience who is admitted to practise law in Guyana or any other Commonwealth nation, or a Magistrate from another Commonwealth jurisdiction who has been serving in that capacity for at least three years and is qualified to practise in Guyana, are the requirements for applying to be a Magistrate.
A Magistrate shall hold office until he/she attains the age of 55. Salary and benefits include a total basic salary of $880,885 monthly, inclusive of the following allowances: utility $15,000, special $20,000, commuted is payable at a rate of $9,096; $7,820; or $6,336, depending on the insurance coverage (mileage is payable at a rate of $20.91 per mile from Head Office to out of town court), a subsistence of $2,500 per day for working out of the district, duty-free concession recurrent at the end of a three or five-year period (dependent on the purchase of a new or reconditioned vehicle), vacation allowance of one-month tax-free basic salary, and 24-hour security service.
Applicants for the post of Deputy Registrar should be an Attorney-at-law with a minimum of three years of professional experience; or should have an undergraduate law degree from a recognized university with professional experience in administration for at least seven years.
The Deputy Registrar will remain in office until the age of fifty-five. The position’s total base pay is $754,284 a month, and includes the following allowances: $20,000 for utility, $15,000 for special, and duty-free concession for a vehicle up to 2000cc.
All salaries and allowances are quoted in Guyana dollars.
Vacation leave and vacation allowance for the posts of Puisne Judge, Land Court Judge, Magistrate, and Deputy Registrar will be granted in accordance with the JSC Rules.
Persons appointed will be required to serve a probationary period of at least six months. On satisfactory completion of the period of probation, the appointee will be confirmed in the appointment, and will be required to contribute to the Dependent s Pension Fund at the prescribed rate, subject to the law governing the administration of the Fund.
Applicants are required to forward application forms or type-written applications with a detailed curriculum vitae and three references to: The Secretary (ag), Judicial Service Commission, Court of Appeal Building, 60 High Street, Kingston, Georgetown. Applications can also be submitted via email: [email protected].
The deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday, November 17, 2023.
Additionally, detailed job descriptions for each post can be found here: https://supremecourt.gy/vacancies.
In recent times, the Attorney General, Chancellor, and the Bar Association have all called for the prompt appointment of judicial officers in order to reduce the backlog of cases, and now these judicial openings have been advertised.
After a six-year hiatus, the members of the JSC took their oaths of office before President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on July 14. The newly appointed members are: Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George; Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Manniram Prashad; former Chancellor Justice Carl Singh and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Justice Beasraj Singh Roy. The Chancellor sits as Chairman of the Commission.
Each of them will hold office for three years.
The JSC is the constitutional body responsible for advising the President on the appointment of Judges, with the exception of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice. The JSC s powers also include the power to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the following offices Commissioner of Title, Magistrate, Director of Public Prosecutions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Registrar of the High Court, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Registrar of Deeds and Deputy Registrar of Deeds, and to such offices connected with the courts or for appointment to which legal qualifications are required as may be prescribed by Parliament. (G1)