The Dominica Bar Association issues statement after remarks by the Minister of National Security and Legal Affairs regarding the court’s approach to the granting of bail to Jonathan Lehrer

The Dominica Bar Association says recent remarks by the Minister of National Security and Legal Affairs regarding the court’s approach to the granting of bail to Jonathan Lehrer are concerning and unfortunate.

Last week Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore opposed the granting of bail to the double murder accused.

In a statement, the Dominica Bar Association says this type of public criticism by a Minister of government of a judicial decision unnecessarily casts a shadow over the independence of the judiciary and risks eroding public confidence in our legal system.

It added that the Minister’s remarks conveyed the impression that the Court may have not taken the matter with the utmost seriousness or considered the relevant provisions of the Bail Act or other relevant law.

The statement from the Bar Association says while it is not its role to determine or relay to the public whether the Honourable Court was right or wrong in its final determination, it must be stated that in this case, specific references to the Bail Act and several case precedents were made by the Honourable Judge throughout his 24-page judgment.

It adds that while public sentiment in high-profile cases is understandable, the separation of powers requires that government officials respect judicial processes and avoid partisan commentary.

The Dominica Bar Association says it calls on all public officials to uphold the integrity of the legal system by refraining from statements that may be perceived as an attempt to influence or challenge judicial independence, as this is essential to maintaining a just and democratic society.