The court will not interfere with the decision rendered by coroner Graveney Bannister into the death of Warren Mottley, brother of Prime Minister Mia Mottley – Nation News, 27 Jan 2025

The importance of Judicial Review has reached centre stage in Barbados due to the decision of High Court Judge, Patrick Wells, yesterday in the review of the Coroners decision against Dr. Sahle Griffith. The Coroner had ruled that there was gross negligence by Dr. Griffith prior to the death of Warren Mottley, the brother of the Prime Minister.

Even though the case in the High Court is of interest to the media for obvious reasons, the case also highlights the need for Judicial Review in societies such as Barbados.

Judicial Review is a legal remedy available to the citizens of Barbados who believe that they have suffered damage because of an unlawful or unfair decision of an administrative body or an individual exercising administrative powers. What is interesting is that the High Court of Barbados even has the power to review the decisions of Judges and Magistrates if it is alleged that does decisions were tainted by unfairness, bias or any other legitimate reason.

Judicial Review looks at the process used by the official to reach its decision. Therefore, in the above case, the High Court reviewed the process used by the Coroner to reach his decision against Dr. Griffith. If the process used to reach the decision was unfair or unlawful then the decision was unfair or unlawful.

Judicial Review is the hallmark of democratic societies. There is a popular quote attributed to ancient philosophers:

The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine

The wheels of justice in Barbados may grind slowly at times but the wheel of Judicial Review turns exceedingly fine.