The Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) has decided not to “pursue any further steps” in its case against Madame Justice Marcia Ayers-Caesar.
In a statement released on January 30, the JLSC stated that it came to decision after receiving legal advice.
The decision is the latest development in a matter that started in 2017 when Madame Justice Ayres-Caesar was Chief Magistrate.
The former Chief Magistrate was appointed a High Court judge in April 2017 but resigned two weeks later after the JLSC raised concerns about the large number of part-heard cases she left behind in the Magistrate’s Court.
The JLSC gave her the option to resign and return to the magistracy or face possible disciplinary proceedings under Section 137 of the Constitution.
The Privy Council upheld the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the JLSC acted unlawfully.
It found that the Commission denied Ayers-Caesar a fair hearing, acted outside its constitutional powers, and pressured her into resigning, effectively removing her from office in a manner not permitted by the Constitution.
While the Board ruled that her conduct was capable of being investigated under section 137, it held that the JLSC followed the wrong process.
The appeal was dismissed, and the matter of constitutional damages was left to be assessed by the High Court.
