Attorney, Tamieka Clarke, who was wrongfully arrested and detained by the Special Organised Crime Unit for advising her client to remain silent during an interview, is among nine Attorneys to be sworn in on Tuesday as new Magistrates.

Clarke had filed a case in the High Court against SOCU for her wrongful detention and she won that case, with the High Court ordering the top officers at SOCU to issue a full apology to the Attorney.

Clarke is now stepping away from her role as an Attorney to take on the new role as a Magistrate.

The Judicial Service Commission today announced that nine Attorneys will take the oath of office as Magistrates on Tuesday before Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

The other Attorneys are Omadatt Chandan, Abigail Gibbs, Tuanna Hardy, Shivani Lalaram, Michelle Matthias, Ravindra Mohabir, Teriq Mohammed and Orinthia Schmidt.

To be appointed to the Magistracy, one must first be an attorney-at-law admitted to practice law in Guyana or any Commonwealth country with at least five years of experience. However, once appointed, a Magistrate is expected to undergo a probationary period of six months. 

The appointments are being made in response to the severe shortage of judicial officers in Guyana’s Justice System. The appointees will increase the current batch of Magistrates in the country to 28.

During his budget presentation last month, the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall disclosed that a total of 10 Magistrates will be appointed this year.

The Judicial Service Commission is expected to also make appointments soon to the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

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