The Supreme Court of Jamaica will take up a lawsuit filed by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) challenging the legality of the recent constitutional amendments to extend the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) retirement age in November.
The Court will listen to the constitutional challenge from November 20 to November 23, 2023, before a panel of three Supreme Court judges. Acting Senior Puisne Judge Justice Lorna Shelly Williams made the order on Friday, August 26, 2023, when she appeared in Chambers.
The claimants for the PNP – Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate and Leader of Opposition Current Business in the House of Representatives, Peter Bunting and Phillip Paulwell, respectively – want the Supreme Court to strike down the constitutional amendments that passed by simple majorities in both Houses of Parliament as being null and void.
In its claim, the Opposition argued that the Government hurriedly pushed the Bill to amend the constitution through Parliament and maintained that it never consulted the Opposition.
They further argue that the amendments breach the separation of powers principle.
In addition, the claimants are seeking declarations that the current DPP, Paula Llewellyn, should be allowed to remain in office until September 2023, when her extension ends.