The appointment of career prosecutor Claudette Thompson to act as the island’s chief advocate has been welcomed by several members of the private bar who described the 49-year-old as the consummate professional who is schooled in the law.

“I have worked with her in a number of cases, and I am not surprised that she was selected. In fact, she has consistently displayed fairness. She is a minister of justice in all its glory. I think she is committed to the rule of law,” defence attorney Alexander Shaw told the
Jamaica Observer on Monday after the appointment was announced.

Commenting on the Constitutional Court ruling last Friday on the extension of the tenure of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn, King’s Counsel, Shaw said he appreciated the different interpretations of the ruling that eventually led to Llewellyn stepping aside.

“Given what was happening, I believe appointing an acting director was important at this time,” he said.

Thompson, whose appointment was approved by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen upon the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, will act for six months effective Monday.

The Attorney General’s Chambers, in a short release on Sunday, said “The director of public prosecutions has advised that she is unable to carry out the functions of her office at this time.”

Her decision came after an all-woman Full Court comprising justices Tricia Hutchinson Shelly, Simone Wolfe-Reece, and Sonya Wint Blair held that, while the amendment to the Act increasing the retirement age of the DPP from 60 to 65 is constitutional, a new provision introduced into the constitution via a second amendment, giving the DPP the right to elect to remain in office without any role by the prime minister or the Opposition is “not a valid section and is severed from the constitution because the process remains unchanged for extending the retirement age”.

Consequently, the panel said the section is “unconstitutional, null, void, and of no legal effect”.

On Monday, chair of the Criminal Practice and Procedure Committee of the Jamaican Bar Association Tamika Harris said Thompson “is well suited to serve as DPP”.

“I wish her well in her new role, albeit it is an acting role. It is in the best interest of Jamaica that we have a robust and fair director of public prosecutions.

“She has a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience in prosecuting matters and leadership. All stakeholders want a justice system where the guilty are brought to timely justice and the innocent protected from wrongful conviction. Ms Thompson’s conduct over the years leaves me in no doubt that she will operate with integrity, inspire public trust and confidence, and safeguard the administration of justice throughout Jamaica,” Harris said.

“It is also remarkable that another female was selected to lead the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP),” Harris added.

Andria Whyte, principal attorney at WHYTE WALTERS LAW, also welcomed Thompson’s appointment.

“I have had matters with her, and in all of her dealings she is the consummate professional. She is, to me, a true definition of a minister of justice as the Crown sometimes is called. She has sound knowledge of the law. I found her to be approachable, personable, and I welcome the fact that she is the one that was named. I do welcome her appointment,” Whyte told the
Observer.

“I believe she is one of those who believes in efficiency, in balancing justice, and to me that is what a prosecutor should be. Yes, you are enforcing the law, but I believe, in my dealings with her, she has come across as balanced and fair with a sound understanding of the law, and I do think that the administration of justice will be further served by her being the acting DPP,” Whyte said.

She also expressed the hope that the office will be given more resources.

“I still say the DPP’s office has highly skilled attorneys and I am hoping that after her six months she will be able to convince the powers that be to have more attorneys employed so that matters can move swiftly through the courts,” Whyte said.

Former prosecutor Tanya Burke described Thompson as “humble, confident and a deeply committed career prosecutor known to many for her unparalleled professionalism in the courtroom”.

“Her passion for, and dedication to the pursuit of justice for victims has been steadfast and is evidenced by her tenure at the ODPP,” Burke said, pointing out that Thompson “remained at the ODPP when most of her friends and colleagues had opted to leave the office for the bench and other pursuits”.

“Through Ms Thompson’s appointment Jamaica gains the expertise of an experienced and principled prosecutor with exceptional legal acumen, the ability to competently handle complex legal matters and an unwavering commitment to justice. I have every confidence in Ms Thompson’s ability to lead the ODPP with impartiality, integrity, and excellence,” she added.

Thompson, whose substantive post at the ODPP is senior deputy director of prosecutions, served in that post since 2018 and previously acted as DPP between August and September 2019.

The seasoned prosecutor, who was also clerk of the court in St Ann in 2004 before becoming assistant Crown counsel at the ODPP in 2007, has played a signal role in several high-profile prosecutions, including the anti-gang case which led to the conviction last year of Andre “Blackman” Bryan, leader of One Don faction of the Klansman gang. She was also pivotal in the prosecution and conviction of the Uchence Wilson gangsters in 2020.

Thompson also featured prominently in the 2019 conviction of Klansman leader Tesha Miller for accessory after the fact to murder. Miller was convicted in connection with the murder of Jamaica Urban Transit Company Chairman Douglas Chambers in 2008.

Both Miller and Bryan are serving life sentences.

Thompson also prosecuted murder convict Dantae Brooks in 2021. Brooks is the son of dancehall deejay Movado.

She also has a range of experience in the conduct of complex prosecutions in the Parish Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

Her duties at the ODPP over the years included the conduct of rulings from various State entities, being head of the Roster Committee, head of the Gun Court Unit and being in charge of the Home Circuit Administration Unit. Thompson has also been tasked over the years with heading the Seminar Planning Committee and being liaison officer for the clerk of the courts.

Thompson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and attended University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree, and the Norman Manley Law School where she obtained her Certificate of Legal Education.

She is a member of the Criminal Case Management Steering Committee, a member of the Human Resource Management Committee in the Ministry of Justice, serves on the Legal Aid Board, and was vice-president of the Legal Officers’ Staff Association.

She has given a range of feature addresses over the years at conferences in Jamaica and overseas on subject areas including ‘Statement taking under the Committal Proceedings Act’, ‘The DNA Evidence’, ‘Chain of Custody’, along with ‘Programmes to Improve Corruption Control and Manage Crime Prevention and Criminal Case Management in Jamaica’.

Thompson has also presented on ‘Cross Examination and Re-Examination 101’, ‘Courtroom Demeanour and Testimony’, ‘The Plea Negotiations Act’, and ‘Bail Applications’.