Kirkland vows unity and modernization as head of Lay Magistrates

Kirkland’s ascension to the helm took place at the Association’s Annual General Meeting on January 17, commencing her 2025-2026 term. She succeeds a lineage of presidents who have stewarded the LMAJ, a body of Justices of the Peace (JPs) central to community-level justice and mediation across the island.

“We do not want to walk fast, but we intend to walk far by walking together,” Kirkland declared to a room of fellow magistrates and dignitaries, a statement met with robust applause. This ethos of collaborative effort formed the cornerstone of her inaugural address, where she praised the “noble organization” and the legacy built by her predecessors, including Dr. Clover Thompson Gordon, the first female president who served from 1996 to 2000.

Kirkland, acknowledging the weight of her new mandate, outlined a forward-looking agenda focused on internal strengthening and external engagement. Key priorities include modernizing the Association’s governance framework and bolstering the capacity of its Parish Chapters to ensure consistent service delivery nationwide.

In a significant move aimed at demystifying the justice system and enhancing the LMAJ’s public profile, President Kirkland announced plans for a revitalized public education drive. This will feature increased media outreach, a more strategic use of digital platforms, and the hosting of quarterly public forums to address community concerns and legal education.

“The strength of the lay magistrate is in our connection to the communities we serve. It is imperative that we strengthen that bond through dialogue and visibility,” Kirkland stated.

The Association is also set to expand its work in a critical area of juvenile justice. Kirkland revealed that the LMAJ has been invited to continue and deepen its involvement in diversion programs for children in conflict with the law. These programs aim to offer rehabilitative alternatives to formal court proceedings, an initiative in which the LMAJ has previously played a supportive role.

Reaffirming the core mission of the LMAJ, the new President pledged an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and service among its members. Her vision suggests an LMAJ that is both rooted in its foundational principles and adaptive to the evolving needs of Jamaican society.

As Paulette Kirkland steps into this leadership role, her call for collective strides—walking together — signals a chapter of renewed purpose for the hundreds of lay magistrates who form a quiet yet essential pillar of Jamaica’s justice landscape.