Chief Justice Stresses Resource Challenges For The Cayman Judiciary At The 2026 Grand Court Opening
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By Alric Lindsay
In a pointed address during the ceremonial opening of the Grand Court today, January 14, 2026, Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale underscored the judiciary’s status as one of the three branches of government, while highlighting persistent resource challenges that threaten the efficient administration of justice in the Cayman Islands.
Speaking before a gathering that included representatives from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as legal professionals and dignitaries, the Chief Justice emphasized the constitutional principle of separation of powers. “The judiciary is not a department of government, as some still think,” she stated, citing a recent instance of correspondence addressed to her. She further noted a troubling remark from a civil service member referring to the judiciary as ministry of government, which the Chief Justice suggested was even worse than the connotation of the judiciary being a part of the government.
“This constitutional role is not always as well understood as it might be,” the Chief Justice added, stressing that the annual Grand Court opening ceremony serves as a rare opportunity to reaffirm the distinct roles of the three branches of government being the judiciary, executive and the legislative. Her comments come amid ongoing discussions about the judiciary’s operational autonomy and capacity constraints, particularly in light of its reliance on government funding for resources.
(Above: Crowd gathering at inspection prior to the delivery of Grand Court speeches)
The judiciary’s reliance on the approval of its funding by the legislature also raises concerns about the actual independence of the judiciary from the legislature. This situation could be improved by giving the judiciary full autonomy over its funding, rather than having it subject to the approval of the legislature.
One example of where sufficient funding is important is in cases of legal aid, which is provided via the court to defendants who are not in a financial position to afford lawyers. Access to justice may be impacted where the legislature has not approved sufficient funding for the judiciary.
Resource constraints are also critical because the Cayman Islands is currently preparing for its next Financial Action Task Force evaluation in 2027. Regarding this, the Cayman Islands may need to demonstrate to the FATF that it continues to have an effective anti-money laundering framework by prosecuting and delivering sentences in cases involving money laundering and terrorist financing. Any resource challenges at the judiciary level may make it more challenging for the Cayman Islands to achieve these FATF objectives.
With several members of parliament present during the Chief Justice’s speech today, it may be the case that more MPS will now understand the bigger picture. That is, the judiciary plays a pivotal role in maintaining the rule of law, which should never by be impacted by resource challenges experienced by the judiciary due to its reliance on funding by another arm of government where politics is at play rather than justice.
