Attorney General Wilkin Underscores Advantages of Criminal Justice Reforms at Regional Roundtable

The Attorney General of St. Kitts and Nevis, Garth Wilkin, addressed the Attorneys General Roundtable in Bridgetown, Barbados, in February 2025, championing the recently enacted Judge Alone Trials Act as a crucial reform for the nation’s justice system. The roundtable, supported by the UNDP PACE Justice Project and funded by the European Union, convened legal experts and policymakers from across the Caribbean to deliberate on strategies for bolstering judicial systems in the region. Wilkin’s central argument revolved around the Act’s potential to enhance efficiency, safeguard the judicial process from external pressures, and ensure appropriate judicial handling of complex cases. He framed his argument with a provocative question, challenging the audience to consider whether such trials would even be necessary if the existing criminal justice system operated efficiently.

Wilkin asserted that the Judge Alone Trials Act represents not merely a necessary change but a significant advancement for the justice system, driven by three primary objectives. First, it aims to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system by tackling case backlogs and expediting trials. Second, it seeks to protect the integrity of the judicial process by addressing the escalating issue of jury intimidation, a growing concern in the region. Finally, it aims to enhance the appropriateness of judicial decisions by ensuring that complex legal matters are adjudicated by judges possessing the requisite specialized knowledge, thereby promoting more informed and just outcomes.

The Attorney General emphasized that the Judge Alone Trials Act is part of a broader suite of legislative reforms designed to improve justice delivery in St. Kitts and Nevis. These reforms include the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2024, which stiffens penalties for illegal firearm offences, and the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act, 2024, which increases the maximum penalty for shooting with intent to murder to life imprisonment. Furthermore, the Justice Interference Prevention Act, 2024, introduces new offences for intimidating or bribing participants in criminal trials, while the Voluntary Bill of Indictment Act, 2024, empowers the Director of Public Prosecutions to fast-track serious cases directly to trial. Finally, the Plea Negotiations and Agreements Act, 2025, formalizes plea bargaining as a mechanism for expediting case resolutions and reducing the burden on the court system. These reforms collectively demonstrate a concerted effort to modernize and strengthen the criminal justice system in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Wilkin explained that judge-alone trials are already the norm in the Magistrate’s Court for the majority of criminal cases, including serious offences related to firearms and drugs. The new Act extends this model to specific categories of cases in the High Court, ensuring that complex legal matters benefit from the expertise of judges. He acknowledged public concerns about the perceived shift away from jury trials, emphasizing that the Act applies only to specific offences and that approximately 70% of High Court cases will continue to be tried before juries. To maintain judicial accountability and transparency, the Act mandates that judges provide written justifications for their verdicts within 14 days and outlines clear appeal processes to ensure judicial oversight.

The Attorney General underscored that criminal justice reform should not be viewed as an abstract policy objective but as a direct response to the pressing issue of crime and gang violence. He highlighted a period of over 111 days without a murder in St. Kitts and Nevis, attributing this success, in part, to the recent legislative changes. Wilkin emphasized that removing criminals from the streets is a key objective of criminal justice reform and asserted that the Judge Alone Trials Act serves as a vital tool for the Director of Public Prosecutions in combating organized crime. He firmly believes that the Act strengthens the prosecution’s ability to pursue justice efficiently and effectively, ultimately contributing to public safety.

Finally, Attorney General Wilkin highlighted that similar judge-alone trial mechanisms have been successfully implemented in other Caribbean jurisdictions, including Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados. These jurisdictions require judges to provide written reasoning for their verdicts, a practice that enhances transparency and fosters public trust in the judicial process. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening criminal justice systems across the Caribbean and advocated for increased judicial capacity, stakeholder engagement, and public legal education as crucial components of successful justice reform. Wilkin’s presentation served as a strong endorsement of the Judge Alone Trials Act and its potential to contribute to a more efficient, just, and robust criminal justice system in St. Kitts and Nevis, while also offering insights relevant to the broader Caribbean context.