Kingston, Jamaica — In a major step towards increasing transparency within the justice system, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes has announced that appropriate court proceedings will now be live-streamed on the Jamaican Judiciary’s official YouTube channel.
Speaking at Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony at King’s House, where two judiciary members were elevated to higher office for the Easter Term, Chief Justice Sykes revealed that the Court of Appeal had successfully conducted its first full broadcast in March. The sitting involved nine judges presiding over the case of Cecil Moore v. R, which addressed critical constitutional issues related to sentencing, mandatory minimums, and judicial discretion.
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“Going forward, we will be live-streaming appropriate cases. We want to do that both in the trial courts and in the appellate courts. It’s easier to do in the appellate courts. But we also want to extend that to the first instance courts as a part of public education generally and actually letting people see what happens in a court, and also reinforcing the right of access to the courts,” Sykes said.
The move places Jamaica among a growing list of jurisdictions—including the United Kingdom, Canada, and several states in the United States—that are embracing digital platforms to broaden public access to judicial proceedings. Experts note that broadcasting court cases can serve as a vital educational tool and strengthen public trust in the legal system.
Alongside this digital initiative, the Judiciary of Jamaica has implemented a new security policy at the Supreme Court (Public Building East), which came into effect on April 7. Designed to enhance the safety of all court users and staff, the measures include daily security screenings beginning at 9:00 a.m. and the introduction of color-coded visitor passes to control movement between floors within the court building.
Visitors requiring access to multiple floors must now obtain a new pass from designated issuing points.
“We have put in place security measures, which you might have seen some articles in the newspapers, that people are complaining about. But one way of managing it is to have greater access via the YouTube facility in appropriate cases,” Chief Justice Sykes remarked.
The Judiciary emphasized that live-streamed cases will be carefully selected, ensuring that broadcasts are appropriate and respect the rights of all involved parties. Matters considered sensitive, or those involving vulnerable individuals, will likely not be streamed to preserve privacy and maintain the dignity of proceedings.
The initiative reflects the Judiciary’s ongoing commitment to modernizing Jamaica’s courts, promoting civic education, and ensuring that justice remains not only done but seen to be done.
