In a formal, tightly run swearing-in ceremony held at Barbados’ State House on Monday, Douglas Frederick took office as the first appointed judge of the country’s newly launched specialized gun court. The event was presided over by President Jeffrey Bostic, with Acting Chief Justice Margaret Reifer in attendance to mark the milestone of one of the first judicial appointments to the new institution. Frederick’s appointment follows his transition from a role as acting chief magistrate to the High Court, and comes as part of a broader judicial reform package aimed at tackling the country’s growing backlog of firearms-related cases.
The creation of two dedicated gun courts, which are scheduled to be fully operational by January, was previously identified as a critical systemic adjustment by Chief Justice Leslie Haynes during his opening address for the 2024 law term last month. Haynes framed the specialized courts as a targeted solution to ease mounting pressure on the country’s overstretched broader judicial system by clearing the growing backlog of firearms-related matters.
Fresh off taking his oath of office, Frederick immediately outlined his core priorities for reforming operational efficiency at the new court, arguing that modernizing court technology and digital infrastructure is no longer an optional upgrade for the Caribbean nation’s judiciary. “There is still some way to go in terms of technology and the use of technology that we have to implement in the courts to make it a bit more efficient,” Frederick noted, explaining that planned digital updates are designed to streamline case processing workflows and improve overall administrative function across the gun court.
Beyond technological upgrades, Frederick carried forward a longstanding criticism he first raised during his tenure on the magistracy bench: persistent delays by police and prosecution teams in preparing and transferring complete case files to the courts. He emphasized that cross-agency coordination must improve to deliver timely case files, a issue he has flagged for years. While he acknowledged incremental progress has been made, he called for far more significant change, noting “you cannot work without the files and justice delayed is justice denied, so I want to see those files come in as quickly as possible.”
Frederick’s push for enhanced efficiency comes as the Barbados judiciary adapts to a wave of new legislation and structural reforms designed to equip courts with stronger tools to address violent crime and case backlogs. Reflecting on his new role overseeing the specialized gun court, Frederick said his judicial approach will remain rooted in three core principles: accessibility for all parties, equal fairness under the law, and formal judicial decorum.
“I will do my best to do justice and of course as you know from my previous work I have always been fair. I have always listened to people. I have always been polite but firm in my duties and that is what I will continue to do,” Frederick said. The new judge added that he feels deeply honored by the public and judicial confidence placed in him to lead the new court, stating “I’m extremely humbled by the confidence that has been reposed in me, and I will continue to be humble and continue to work as hard as I believe I’ve been working.”
Taking up his post at a time of sweeping legislative and judicial renewal across Barbados, Frederick framed his appointment as a unique opportunity to strengthen the delivery of fair, timely justice for communities across the country.