| High Court Appoints Foreign National Justices Smith and Carter Despite Defence Bar Objections |
| Fri, October 23, 2026 |
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Despite strong objections from local defense attorneys and delays stemming from opposition scrutiny, the appointments of two foreign national judges to the High Court of Belize have officially proceeded.
Former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Sheiniza Smith, a Guyanese national resident in Belize, and Peter Carter, an attorney from Trinidad and Tobago, have been formally appointed as Justices of the High Court. Official notices published in the Belize Gazette and letters issued by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission confirm that both appointments will take effect on November 2, 2026.
According to correspondence signed by JLSC Secretary Rolando Zetina, both judges will hold office until reaching the mandatory judicial retirement age of 65. Smith will serve from November 2, 2026, until February 5, 2051, while Peter Carter will serve from November 2, 2026, until April 23, 2053.
The selection of Smith and Carter stirred considerable controversy when the JLSC's initial recommendations came to light earlier this year. The Association of Defence Attorneys publicly criticized the decisions, raising alarm over the reliance on foreign appointments and arguing that experienced Belizean legal professionals were being bypassed in favor of external candidates.
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