WILLEMSTAD – Valerie Bernt officially took the oath of office as a member of the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba during a ceremony held on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Governor of Curaçao Mauritsz de Kort, before whom Bernt formally made her pledge. Colleagues from the Joint Court of Justice and members of her family attended the occasion.
With the formal ceremony, Bernt assumes her responsibilities as a member of the judicial institution that serves the three autonomous Caribbean countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as the Caribbean Netherlands islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
The Joint Court of Justice plays an important role in the administration of justice throughout the Dutch Caribbean, handling civil, criminal, and administrative cases within its jurisdiction.
The appointment of judicial members forms part of the institutional framework designed to ensure the continued functioning and independence of the judiciary across the six islands.
The ceremony marked an important professional milestone for Bernt as she formally joined the Court.
The official announcement did not provide additional details about her previous judicial experience or the specific duties she will undertake within the Joint Court of Justice.