Ouanaminthe, recently separated from the jurisdiction of Fort-Liberté and granted its own judicial district, is still unable to serve local residents. The court of first instance has remained non-operational since its creation by decree in September 2024 and its inauguration in 2025. To date, only the chief judge of the court has been appointed by the executive authorities, while no trial judge or investigating judge has been named.
The situation is not much better in the jurisdiction of Limbé, which currently has one chief judge, one investigating judge, and one trial judge. According to the president of the Professional Association of Magistrates (APM), Marthel Jean-Claude, this staffing remains inadequate. He described the appointment of only one investigating judge in a jurisdiction as unacceptable. “If the investigating judge has family ties with a defendant, who will take over? There should be at least two judges,” he said.
Regarding Ouanaminthe, Marthel Jean-Claude regretted that the court remains inactive, depriving residents of their right to justice. “When a suspect is prosecuted for a criminal offense, the case file must be transferred to an investigating chamber. But none exists. No civil or emergency cases can be heard in this jurisdiction,” the APM president stated.
In a press release obtained by the newspaper, the Professional Association of Magistrates expressed deep concern that since the installation of the Ouanaminthe court of first instance, only the chief judge has been appointed.
“No other judicial appointments have been made. The court remains without judges and investigating magistrates, which seriously compromises its operation,” the APM said.
The association stated that this situation weakens access to justice and directly harms the citizens of this new jurisdiction. It also reminded authorities that the effective presence of magistrates is essential to protecting fundamental rights and ensuring the proper functioning of the public justice system.
As a result, the APM is calling on the executive branch to act responsibly and urgently take the necessary measures to appoint judges to the Ouanaminthe court of first instance.
The association also noted that several other courts of first instance and peace courts across the country continue to operate with limited judicial staff, creating a major obstacle to the regular functioning of the justice system in Haiti.
The APM reaffirmed its commitment to defending judicial independence and promoting a public justice service that is accessible, effective, and respectful of citizens’ rights.
