AG wants
Newsgathering Editor
kejan.haynes@guardian.co.tt
Attorney General Reginald Armour has called on Senior Counsel Israel Khan to apologise for statements made about the future of jury trials.
Khan’s statements were originally presented at the Law Association’s inaugural “Law Week” and were also published in the Guardian on October 11.
Khan claimed that the AG and the Chief Justice intend to abolish trials by jury. The AG said in a statement, “I call on Mr Khan to withdraw them with an appropriate apology. I call on the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago, from whose platform Mr Khan purported to make these remarks, to speak out to defend the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, consistent with its statutory duty to promote, maintain, and support the administration of justice and the rule of law.”
Armour condemned Khan’s allegations, labelling them as “utterly wrong” and “reprehensible”.
He took issue with Khan’s assertion that it is “easier for the criminal element to bribe” judges in their constitutional duties. The Attorney General said Khan was aware of the ongoing examination of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Trial by Judge Alone) Bill, 2023, which addresses the framework for conducting certain criminal trials with juries or by judges alone.
Armour pointed out that Khan, as president of the Criminal Bar Association, participated in the Senate Special Select Committee reviewing the bill and submitted written contributions. He noted that these submissions were cogent and considered, contrasting them with the unfounded statements Khan made in his recent article.
The Attorney General characterised Khan’s suggestions of an “underhanded plan” as disingenuous and dangerous, claiming they compromise the integrity of the judicial system and undermine the work of Parliament.
Khan yesterday said he was not apologising. “Of course not,” he added.
‘The views expressed are not endorsed by the Law Association’
Meanwhile, in a release on Friday, the Law Association stated that the views expressed in the story were not the views of the association.
It stated, “The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago notes a report in the 11th October 2024 edition of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian on Jury Trials, which purports to be an abridged version of a paper presented at its Inaugural Law Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad from 10th to 11th October 2024. The Law Association wishes to state that the views expressed therein do not represent the views of the association, nor are they endorsed by the association.”