10c - JUDICIAL CENTRE COMPLEX (New Court House)

The Judicial Centre, designed by local Architects Gillespie & Steel Associates Ltd., has a floor area of15,500 sq.m. (approx. 170,000 sq ft). There are separate entrances to the Supreme Court and Registry sections of the building, each clearly defined with porticos to the west and south. These are linked with gardens in front of the main façade to give an attractive public open space with paved plaza, fountain and sunken garden.

Internally, the main Supreme Court entrance opens into a triple height public atrium with glass balustrading and natural light from above. From this atrium, at different levels, access is gained to all of the Courts, including four Criminal Courts and Court of Appeal, each with teak wall panelling, raked public seating and stepped ceilings.

The upper levels of the atrium give access to four Civil Courts, three Chambers Courts and the Registrar’s Court. There is also a public Cafeteria, Washrooms; Attorney’s Consulting Rooms and the Community Legal Services Department.

Behind the scenes, there are 15 individual Judge’s Chambers, including the Chief Justice’s Suite, and these give direct access to the Judges Bench in each Court.

The Registry section incorporates Records Registry, Court of Appeal Registry and High Court Registry with associated administrative offices, Vaults and a substantial Law Library.

The Complex opened on 5^th October 2009 with the start of the Legal Year 2009 - 2010

50c - Handcuffs and Seal of the Court..

Handcuffs are devices used to restrain prisoners, by securing the wrists close together. They comprise of two parts linked together by a chain, a hinge or in the case of rigid cuffs, a bar. Handcuffs are used on suspected or dangerous criminals to prevent them from escaping custody.

A seal is the designed impression used by a person, business or institution used to identify or brand itself. Used to make an impression on paper on an envelope its appearance lends proof of authority and authenticity to the document and correspondence.

$1.40 - The Judges Robe, Wig and Gavel.

The Judges wig, traditionally made from animal or human hair, is called a full-bottomed wig and was worn only by High Court judges at the opening of the Assizes. This traditional dress was replaced in Barbados in the twenty-first (21st) century.

The gavel is a small ceremonial mallet commonly made of hardwood and typically fashioned with a handle. It is a symbol of authority, and it is used to signal the beginning (call to order) and ending (adjournment) of a session of the court, as well as, to restore order when proceedings became rowdy. It is also used to call for attention or to punctuate rulings and is often struck against a sound block to enhance its sounding qualities.

$2.50 - The Barbados Supreme Court (Old).

The Supreme Court building situated at Coleridge Street, Bridgetown is home to the High Courts and Court of Appeal. This building has been there since 1730. It was built at a cost of six thousand pounds (£6,000.00) and was initially known as the Town Hall Jail because it housed prisoners detained as a result of both civil and criminal proceedings.

The building was also home to the local legislature and judiciary. The Coleridge Street Complex became known as the Law Courts when the 1956 Supreme Court of Judicature Act was passed close to the time that the Registration Office Building to the immediate south was built and physically joined to the Law Courts. From that time, all legal and judicial business was carried out at Coleridge Street.

It served as the Town Hall until 1874 and also as the public goal until 1837. For over 278 years, the building at Coleridge Street was the centre of administration of justice in Barbados.

Following the re-organisation of the Judicature in 1958, this Georgian building with its nineteenth century verandah was officially renamed the Law Courts, a function it served until 2009.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Country Barbados

Title 300th Anniversary of the Restructured Criminal Court

Release Date 10th November, 2009

Design & Layout Nick Shewring

Printer The Lowe-Martin Group

Stamp size 28.80m x 43.20mm

Sheet format 50 (2 x 25)

Souvenir Sheet 73 x 100 mm

Paper CASCO Crown Watermarked

Perforation 13 per 2 cms

Process Lithography

Value & Designs

10c New Court House

50c Handcuffs and Seal

$1.40 Judges, Robe,Wig andGavel

$2.50 Old Court House

Prices

Set of 4 stamps: $4.50

FDC $5.25