SENIOR Resident Magistrate for St James, Glen Brown, has been promoted to high court judge and is now presiding over the current sitting of the Kingston Circuit Court.

Brown, who was nicknamed “Judge Dred” by residents of St James, came to the parish about two years ago, after the departure of Norman Sang.

Following his arrival in Montego Bay, Brown declared war on drug dealers, who he said were wreaking havoc on the residents of the parish.

His promotion has been greeted with a great deal of delight by persons in the legal fraternity.

President of the Cornwall Bar Association, Clive Mullings, said his organisation was very happy with the appointment.

“We are delighted at his appointment,” Mullings told the Observer. “As a graduate of the Norman Manley Law School, it shows that he has come of age.”

He added that the presence of Justice Seymour Panton among the judges at the Court of Appeal is testimony that locally trained attorneys were making a mark in the justice system.

Panton was also trained at the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School.

Mullings said Brown had made an indelible impression on western Jamaica and his work would be missed.

Assistant commissioner of police, in charge of Area One, Linton Latty, echoed similar sentiments.

“We will miss him a whole lot… he was firm and strong and has respect for citizens and police,” Latty said.

He added that the parish would now need a strong judge to handle the number of cases in the parish, as well as to fill the void left by Judge Brown.

Paulette Williams has taken over from Brown as senior resident magistrate. She was transferred from Westmoreland.