KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The Evidence Amendment Act, passed in May last year, has already been serving to reduce delays in the administration of justice through the country’s legal system.

This is according to Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, who in an address at the swearing-in of  Puisne Judges at King’s House on January  5, said she expects all participants in the system to double their efforts this year in ensuring timely delivery of services.

“In this new year, it is expected that all participants in our justice system will have a heightened sense of responsibility, to reduce delays in our courts and to save time and expenses of all persons concerned,” she said, citing judges, lawyers of the prosecution and defence and the police, amongst others.

The Evidence Amendment Act seeks to enhance the efficiency of Jamaica’s justice system, by providing a simpler procedure for the admissibility of computer-generated evidence, and the reports of experts, where the latter is not deemed disputable.

“For example in the case of a death of a person, there is no need to call someone  to prove that the person is dead or to give other evidence if such can be agreed and it’s not in dispute,” McCalla explained.

She said through this legislation, trials can be much shorter, with no impingement of the fairness of the trial process to the accused.  She further noted that there is now no need for long and unnecessary cross examinations, “fishing expeditions and showmanship,” which is characterised by some criminal trials.