Supreme Court Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda's judiciary is structured to uphold the rule of law, with the Supreme Court serving as the highest judicial authority in the nation.
Supreme Court of Antigua and Barbuda:
Composition: The Supreme Court consists of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
- High Court: Handles civil and criminal cases at the first instance.
- Court of Appeal: Hears appeals from the High Court.
Integration with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC): Antigua and Barbuda is part of the ECSC system, which serves multiple Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions.
- ECSC Headquarters: Located in Saint Lucia.
- Final Court of Appeal: Decisions from the ECSC can be appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom.
Recent Legal Developments:
- Decriminalization of Same-Sex Intimacy (2022): On July 5, 2022, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled that sections of the Penal Code criminalizing consensual same-sex intimacy were unconstitutional. This landmark decision affirmed that constitutional protections against sex discrimination extend to sexual orientation and gender identity. citeturn0search11
Judicial Leadership:
- Acting Chief Justice: As of May 5, 2024, Mario Michel serves as the acting Chief Justice of Antigua and Barbuda.
This judicial framework ensures that Antigua and Barbuda's legal system operates within a regional context, providing access to a range of judicial resources and expertise.
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