Despite a measure of success in the timely disposal of some court cases, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has expressed dissatisfaction with what he termed the “unacceptably long delay in setting trial dates and delivering judgments”.

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Wednesday, Chuck told his colleagues in Gordon House that there were cases filed and ready for trial in the Supreme Court with dates as far as 2026.

The justice minister said that Parish Court cases should be completed within two years, with 18 months a realistic average.

Jamaica’s Chief Justice, Bryan Sykes, has urged the courts to deliver more judgments orally and that judgments be only reserved for complex cases.

Citing support given to the judiciary and the court system, Chuck said that the ministry had responded to a request to provide judicial clerks to assist with writing judgments, and 10 had been provided, increasing their numbers to 22 in the Supreme Court.