In a landmark judicial decision on March 27, 2026, the Court of Appeal delivered a significant victory for free speech and judicial accountability by completely overturning a controversial contempt ruling against Industrial Relations Consultant Mr. Anderson E. Carty. The original November 2023 conviction by the Industrial Court had found Carty guilty of ‘indirect contempt’ for critical remarks made during a live radio broadcast on Observer Radio’s ‘Connecting with Dave Lester Payne’ programme.
The contentious case centered on Carty’s assertions that the legal system was ‘compromised,’ operated against the ‘little man,’ and was in ‘chaos at almost every level.’ The Industrial Court had determined these comments scandalized the court, attacked its integrity, and created perceptions of bias toward employers. As punishment, Carty was ordered to retract his statements and broadcast a court-approved apology on the same programme—a demand he refused based on jurisdictional grounds.
In a remarkable turn during appellate proceedings, the Attorney General’s Chambers, representing the Industrial Court, conceded the lower court lacked proper jurisdiction to issue the contempt order. However, they maintained the controversial position that the order remained legally binding until formally overturned. This argument visibly troubled the appellate panel, who questioned how an order made without jurisdictional authority could carry any legal weight.
Though the appellate judges appeared prepared to deliver strong criticism of the Industrial Court’s handling of the case, they ultimately exercised judicial restraint by reserving commentary. The Court of Appeal’s final judgment not only nullified the contempt ruling in its entirety but also awarded $2,000 in costs against the Respondent, establishing an important precedent regarding jurisdictional boundaries and judicial authority.