In a landmark judicial reform, Belize’s High Court has inaugurated a pioneering Judicial Settlement Conference (JSC) system, marking a strategic shift towards alternative dispute resolution. Spearheaded by Chief Justice Louise Blenman, this initiative formally sworn in this morning, enlists ten of the nation’s most distinguished Senior Counsels as voluntary settlement officers.
The JSC framework establishes a structured, confidential, and non-adversarial environment where neutral officers facilitate negotiations between disputing parties. This process is designed to explore amicable resolutions before cases escalate into protracted litigation. Justice Martha Alexander, Co-Chair of the JSC Management Committee, emphasized that these conferences complement rather than replace traditional trials, serving as a parallel mechanism to achieve equitable outcomes while conserving judicial resources.
Chief Justice Blenman revealed the critical backdrop necessitating this intervention: a dire backlog situation where civil cases remained stagnant for up to nine years, with individual judges managing dockets exceeding 140 cases. Despite substantial progress in reducing these backlogs through a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against delayed judgments, the judiciary faces mounting pressure from increasing civil litigation in a rapidly developing Belize.
The voluntary participation of legal luminaries like Senior Counsel Rodwell Williams, who committed to providing pro-bono service, underscores the legal community’s collective effort to enhance judicial efficacy. The High Court retains authority in determining which cases—those with highest settlement potential—are referred to JSCs, ensuring the program strategically targets resolvable disputes while maintaining judicial oversight over complex litigation.