After 16 years of service, Chief Magistrate to retire next month

Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, who has served the judiciary for more than a decade, is set to head into retirement on May 15.

As such, she has since proceeded on pre-retirement leave.

And, Principal Magistrate, Sherdell Isaacs-Marcus is currently performing the duties of the Chief Magistrate.

McLennan, who is a Colonel in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), began her legal career in 2007.

During her tenure, she presided in courts in the Georgetown, West Demerara and East Demerara Magisterial Districts.

McLennan attained her Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of West Indies in 1994 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad two years.

She is also the holder of a Post Graduate Certificate in Diplomacy from the University of Guyana.

In 2015, McLennan was appointed as the country’s Chief Magistrate by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). She presides in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One.

Currently, there is no JSC in place.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had assured that the Commission, which expired in 2017, will be reconstituted this year.

The JSC is responsible for the appointment of judicial officers. Its continued absence could result in more shortage of judicial officers.

Already, there is a shortage of judges.

In January this year, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C., had issued a call for an increase in the complement of High Court judges to dispose of criminal proceedings in a timelier manner as the number of cases on trial has increased significantly over the years.