Foreword

• Author: Paula V. Llewellyn, CD, QC
• Profession: Director of Public Prosecutions
• Pages: 21-22

T

at its core the intersection of the functions and roles of all the stakeholders namely the Parish Court





Clerks of Courts, defence attorneys and to a certain extent new members of the Parish Court Bench, up to

this point, have largely gained their knowledge of the practical aspects of court practice from the institutional

memories of more experienced court users and learning while doing, during the course of their work activities.







thrown into the deep-end to sink or swim. It was thought that this built character and grit, that is, if you

survived. All one was armed with was the knowledge of the law derived from academia at the Law faculty



needed to guide you, practically speaking, in one place. It was a given that one had to rely on the generosity



defence counsel who did not hesitate to make their expertise and critically, their institutional memories,





been the experience of all other stakeholders coming into the system at the commencement of their careers

depending on their entry level and core function.



Experience has shown that the misapplication of the law, lack of knowledge, lack of understanding or the

lack of proper execution of the practice by any stakeholder in the Parish Court may cause professional





the practice/protocols has resulted in the allowance or dismissal of appeals depending on your perspective.

This book On Your Feet: Criminal Law Practice in the Parish Court in Jamaica provides an excellent guide and

compendium of the intricacies and nuances attached to the duties of Clerk of Courts, Parish Court Judges,



such a detailed and thorough collation of the criminal practice in this area which has effectively connected

the dots between the law, practice and the procedure in many different areas in the Parish Court. I foresee

that this work will become a highly valued and sought after training manual for all new stakeholders entering

practice in their respective functions within the Parish Courts.

Foreword