ANTIGUA-High Court dismisses application for injunction filed by chief magistrate.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A High Court Monday dismissed an application by Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh, seeking an injunction from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC), paving the way for the disciplinary charges against her to proceed.

Walsh has been on suspension since July 20 this year with full pay until further notice after being presented with ten disciplinary charges on July 12.

The suspension, which took effect immediately, was communicated to Walsh by letter dated July 19, 2023, citing Rule 4 of the JLSC Disciplinary Rules.

The specific details of the allegations remain unclear, but her lawyers contend that her constitutional rights were violated during the process.

Walsh had been seeking injunctive relief while pursuing a constitutional claim against the Commission, and her three-member legal team comprising Kenny Kentish, Wendel Robinson, and Leon ‘Chaku’ Symister also argued that their client was denied natural justice throughout the disciplinary process.

In her constitutional motion, Walsh argues that the JLSC lacked the authority to suspend her and that only the Governor General, acting on the advice of the JLSC, has that power.

Walsh was suspended in July following a string of charges from an investigation into complaints about her conduct.

She faced several complaints over the last three years, particularly relating to her treatment of staff and conduct on the bench.

In April 2022, transgender social media personality Washington Bramble filed a complaint to the Commission, alleging misconduct by the Chief Magistrate.

In March this year, the Chief Magistrate took Bramble to court over alleged statements said to have been made online for insulting, intimidating, causing hatred, and causing hostility towards her.

Additionally, in October 2022, a case against Walsh while serving as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was thrown out of court after the High Court held that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Hildred Simpson, had no authority to initiate an investigation against the Chief Magistrate during her service as DPP.