Chief Justice: Psychometric tests among proposals to reform recruitment of judges

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes says the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is to consider proposals, including the use of psychometric tests, to reform the recruitment of judges.

He made the announcement while addressing Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony for two members of the judiciary to higher office for the Easter Term, at King’s House.

Sykes said the commission is to host its very first retreat. It will consider recommendations from the 2007 report of the Professor Barrington Chevannes- led Jamaican Justice System Reform Task Force.

The report noted that the existing system for the appointment of judges at all levels of the judiciary is inadequate and not transparent enough.

“Despite the fact that it may be considered old, it is still relevant and we take the observations made there very seriously, and arising from that and other considerations, a committee was established under the leadership of the then Justice of Appeal, Justice Hillary Phillips, and she produced a report in 2020,” Sykes explained.

The chief justice said the commission, which he chairs, will consider the use of psychometric evaluation, as in other important areas of national life it is a standard recruiting tool.

“We will be looking at things such as attitude to authority, willingness to work in teams, willingness to abide by legitimate instructions in terms of the administration of the court, because the court as an institution has to have rules by which it operates without compromising the ability of the judge to decide cases as they understand the law and the evidence. So, those are things that the Commission will be looking at in order to strengthen the recruitment process,” he explained.

A psychometric test is an assessment used by employers to measure candidates' cognitive ability, personality or work behaviour.

Sykes underscored that it is critical for the process to be strengthened, as once a judge is appointed, barring misbehaviour or severe ill health, it is almost impossible to remove him or her.

“At the end of the retreat, the expectation is that we will have a detailed recruitment methodology, processes clearly outlined, the criteria for selection clearly articulated, so that when persons are seeking to apply for judicial office, they will know exactly what is expected of them and how the process will be conducted,” he said.

The two appointments involved Tracey-Ann Johnson who has been appointed to act as a Supreme Court judge and Christine McNeil, as master-in-chambers. They will serve for the term. which will run from April 28 to July 31

Johnson was appointed Senior Judge of the Parish Court in 2019 and since 2020, has been serving as acting Supreme Court judge. McNeil served as Acting Parish Judge from 2021 to 2022 and has been serving as acting master since 2023.

- JIS News

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