Chief Justice Bryan Sykes says some defence lawyers could be violating their clients' constitutional right to a fair trial in a reasonable time, if they fail to rethink their approach to having matters heard by the court.

The event was held at the St. Catherine Parish Court on Friday

“I must use this opportunity to make an appeal to members of the private bar, because unless they rethink some of the ideas they have, they are going to be actively involved in violating the constitutional rights of their clients, which is the right of a fair trial within a reasonable time,” Sykes said.

He said the Criminal Justice (Administration) Act makes provision for the use of bench trials for most cases, but several defence attorneys are unwilling to use the provision.

The chief justice's plea comes amid COVID-19 restrictions at the nation's courts, where jury trials remain suspended, as juror boxes do not allow for physical distancing.

“If you’re being told that your trial will not be until 2022 because there is no jury, you need to say to your lawyer: 'But I hear the chief justice saying that I can get a trial without a jury.