On November 4th, 2011 the College of The Bahamas' Law and Criminal Justice Society hosted the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett in an open forum designed for students to engage in open dialogue with this preeminent figure of our legal community. The Chief Justice the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett offered timely legal advice to those in attendance in addition to a dynamic discourse.
The Law Does Not Operate in a Vacuum
The Chief Justice the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett reiterated the fact that the law does not operate in a vacuum when questioned about the problems perpetuated in the criminal justice system. He offered that the law operates through the strengths and weaknesses of people and where there are strengths, those strengths should be built upon while weaknesses should be worked around.
The Chief Justice the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett was also asked about his recent M v F ruling concerning the validity of pre-nuptial agreements in The Bahamas. The judicial decision was a hot topic of sorts as it made headlines across the country due to the fact that it eliminated the existing argument that pre-nuptial agreements were contrary to public policy. The Chief Justice elaborated that the judicial decision was made according to the circumstances of the case and in relation to the contemporary realities of our society.
Other questions put to the attention of the Chief Justice the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett asked about the challenging aspects of our criminal justice system as well as the estimated timeline on the introduction of an international arbitration centre to our shores. As it related to the criminal justice system, he suggested that there should be a greater use of plea bargaining and effective case management. As it related to the introduction of an international arbitration centre, he suggested that we may be lacking in infrastructure and the skilled workers necessary in order to be globally competitive as an international arbitration centre.
The Bahamas is bigger than New Providence
The Chief Justice the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett was also asked for advice on ways to remain competitive in the legal field. While he strongly cautioned against specializing immediately following one's Bachelor of Law qualification citing experience as a driving factor of this decision, he did recommend expanding legal practice to the Family Islands. He noted that many of our Family Islands do not have full time practicing attorneys and it would be a smart move to open up practice in islands other than New Providence.
Parting Words
When asked about his own personal motto that defined his approach to the legal profession, the Chief Justice the Honourable Sir Michael Barnett quoted the well-known hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians", going on to say it is his hope that legal professionals will work together to improve our legal system for the benefit of The Bahamas.
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