Ad Hoc Judge call issued as Turks & Caicos Supreme Court handles busy caseload

Turks and Caicos, March 18, 2026 – A recent call for applications for Ad Hoc Judges by the Judicial Service Commission of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court comes as the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court prepares to hear a busy slate of criminal, civil and constitutional matters, according to the latest court list published for the week of March 16–20, 2026.

The vacancy notice, published March 4, invites suitably qualified attorneys to apply to be placed on a roster of Ad Hoc Judges who may be appointed to perform the duties of a Supreme Court Judge for specific cases or limited periods. The appointments are made under section 77(5) of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, which allows for temporary judicial appointments when required.

While the notice does not state the reason for the recruitment, the current court schedule reflects a demanding caseload, including a multi-day criminal trial, several sentencing hearings, and a constitutional motion involving the Attorney General.

Among the matters listed for hearing this week is a trial involving three defendants, John Smith, Kenneth Abrams and Robert Koenig, scheduled to run over several days before Justice Selochan.  Multi-day trials are typically reserved for complex matters involving multiple charges or extensive evidence.

The court list also includes a constitutional motion filed by Turks and Caicos Realty Limited and others against the Attorney General. The case is scheduled for a status hearing later in the week. Constitutional motions are generally used to challenge the legality of government actions or laws, although details of the claim were not disclosed in the court listing.

Additional matters before the court include several criminal sentencing hearings, civil proceedings, and the admission of a new attorney to practice before the Supreme Court.

Ad Hoc Judges are appointed when necessary to ensure the efficient functioning of the court, particularly in cases where additional judicial capacity is required, or where a judge must be recused due to a conflict of interest.

The weekly court list is subject to change, but the current schedule suggests an active period for the Supreme Court as a range of significant matters move forward.

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