Dominica will host the commencement of the New Law Year by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) with its traditional Ceremonial Opening on Jan 12, 2026. The ECSC will begin with the proceedings under the theme “The ECSC: Justice that Endures – Anchored in Independence, Strengthened through Trust,” for this year.
Chief Registra of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court – Michelle John-Pheobalds stated that they are happy to observe the 59th year of this tradition in Dominica. The ceremony began with a church service on Sunday, Jan 11, 2026 at the Lady Fatima Catholic Church in Newtown from 9:00 a.m.
At the church they invited the public to come and see the members of the bench, the judge and members of the bar who will come to celebrate the milestone and are usually present at the court to start with prayer.
The ECSC is happy to usher and heralded this new lawyer with the Chief service and they are grateful to the clergy at the Lady Fatima Catholic Church for accommodating them, this year.
Chief Registra of the ECSC said that the Sunday celebrations will continue on Monday with a procession to the State House Conference Room, which has been declared as a court for the purpose of the Special Sitting to mark the Opening of the Law Year. The procession will include an inspection of the Guard of Honour that will be immediately followed by the Special Sitting at 10:00 a.m.
John-Pheobalds further stated that at the special sitting the feature address will be delivered by her ladyship – Hobble Madam Margaret Price Findlay who was the act-in-Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The address will be delivered live from the Faith House Conference Room in Rose in the Commonwealth of Dominica and will be telecasted live to all the member state and Territories of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
All the nine member States and territories of OECS will be able to tune in live to watch the address through various media platforms. Additionally, the address will be streamed live on the official website of the court, their Facebook Page and through the websites and social media outlets of the Government Information Services in each jurisdiction, along with the UWITV.