Independent Senator Sophia Chote, SC, voiced significant concerns during the Senate debate on the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (AJIPA), particularly regarding the expanded powers granted to Justices of the Peace (JPs) to authorize search warrants. Chote, a former president of the Law Association, highlighted the lack of a comprehensive and up-to-date list of JPs, citing a Gazetted list from May as incomplete and potentially dangerous. She pointed out that there is no mechanism for the JP Association or the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs to be informed if a JP becomes incapacitated, dies, or faces serious legal charges. Chote emphasized the risks of granting broad powers to JPs without proper background checks or accountability measures. She referenced a 1997 incident where JPs were accused of misconduct, leading to the creation of a handbook by then Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. However, Chote lamented that this guide is now outdated and largely unknown to many attorneys. She concluded that without a transparent and accountable system for JPs, she could not support the bill in good conscience.