Dear Editor,

It is with deep sadness that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) notes the passing of Ena Collymore-Woodstock, an exemplary barrister and magistrate from Jamaica whose career broke barriers for women throughout the region.

She passed away on December 2, 2025 at the age of 108.

Collymore-Woodstock was appointed as Jamaica’s first female resident magistrate in 1959. During her career, she chaired the Juvenile Court and was also appointed the senior resident magistrate before her retirement in 1977.

Her work was not only localised to Jamaica but also realised throughout the Caribbean and beyond. She was awarded on the national and international levels for her contributions to the judicial sphere and society including the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government and the Order of the British Empire from the United Kingdom.

In 2021, Collymore-Woodstock was named a Pioneering Caribbean Woman Jurist by the CCJ Academy for Law.

Collymore-Woodstock was a true pioneer. Her legacy resonates in every courtroom where a female judicial officer presides and in the heart of every individual who values justice and equity. She has served as an inspiration for many in the legal sector and beyond. We are truly in her debt for her contributions.

The CCJ extends its deepest condolence to her family, friends, and the people of Jamaica during this time of mourning. May her long life exemplify a legacy of service, advocacy, and leadership, and will continue to inspire generations to come.

Winston Anderson

President

Caribbean Court of Justice

ccjcomm@ccj.org