WILLEMSTAD – The Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba will be strengthened with the appointment of several new judges and special members. The Kingdom Council of Ministers has approved the nominations following a proposal from the Dutch State Secretary for Justice and Security.
Among the new appointments is Lee-Ann Geerman, currently serving as a judge at the District Court of Limburg in the Netherlands. She is scheduled to begin her duties in Curaçao on January 1, 2027.
Her appointment will contribute to the judicial capacity of the Joint Court, which is responsible for administering justice across the Caribbean countries and public entities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Additional Appointments to Strengthen Judicial Capacity
In addition to Geerman's appointment, Yvonne Sneevliet has been appointed as a substitute member of the Court.
The Kingdom Council of Ministers has also approved the nominations of Marlies Wolfrat and Brechtje Huiskes as special members of the multi-judge appellate chamber responsible for handling civil service cases.
This chamber deals with appeals involving legal disputes related to public sector employment, including matters concerning the rights and obligations of civil servants.
The addition of special members is intended to support the Court's ability to handle these specialized proceedings.
Another nomination concerns Pascal Jacobs of the University of Curaçao, who has been proposed as a member of the Civil Service Appeals Board for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, collectively known as the BES islands.
His nomination reflects the involvement of legal professionals from Curaçao in judicial institutions serving other parts of the Dutch Caribbean.
Joint Court Serves Six Caribbean Jurisdictions
The Joint Court of Justice plays a central role in the administration of justice throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
It serves Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, which are autonomous countries within the Kingdom, as well as Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, which are special municipalities of the Netherlands.
The Court handles civil, criminal, and administrative matters through its judicial structure, including appeals from decisions issued by the Courts of First Instance.
Its work is essential to maintaining access to justice and ensuring that legal disputes are resolved through independent judicial proceedings.
The appointment of qualified judges and specialized members is an important component of maintaining the Court's operational capacity across the different islands.
New Judge to Begin Duties in January
Geerman's scheduled arrival in Curaçao on January 1, 2027, will mark the beginning of her assignment within the Caribbean judicial system.
Her experience at the District Court of Limburg will add to the professional expertise available within the Joint Court.
The other appointments and nominations will strengthen the Court's broader judicial structure, particularly in the handling of civil service appeals.
The announcement does not specify the exact starting dates for all the other appointees or whether the nominations still require additional formal steps before taking effect.
The decisions form part of the Kingdom's continuing responsibility to ensure that the Caribbean judicial system has the personnel necessary to carry out its duties effectively.