Claudette Thompson appointed as acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) 

Claudette A Thompson, the senior deputy director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, has been appointed the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions. The appointment was effective from Monday, April 22. Her appointment was approved by the Governor General of Jamaica, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, KSt. J, upon the recommendation of the Public Service Commission.

This appointment follows the departure of Paula Llewellyn, who served as the DPP for 16 years but stepped aside under controversial circumstances. Llewellyn stepped aside after the Constitutional Court ruled on April 19 that a second extension of her tenure, granted last year after the Constitution was amended, was unconstitutional. The government has expressed that it will appeal this decision.

Here’s some detailed information about Claudette Thompson:

– She was born on May 27, 1975. – She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. – She got a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School. – She served as a clerk of the court in St Ann in 2004, before becoming Assistant Crown Counsel at the ODPP in 2007. – She has been a deputy DPP since 2018, and had previously acted as the DPP between August 2 and September 6 in 2019. – She has almost two decades of experience as a prosecutor. – During her career, she has featured in several notable cases including the murder conviction of Dontae Brooks and Klansman Leader Tesha Miller. – She is a member of the Legal Aid Board and a former vice-president of the Legal Officer’s Staff Association.

Thompson has previously served as the Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Justice Ministry emphasized that Thompson brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the pursuit of justice, and they offered their congratulations as she begins this important role in serving the country.

Reacting to Miss Thompson’s ascension in an interview, Mr. Samuels emphasized the importance of the administration of justice continuing. Noting Justice Minister, Delroy Chuck’s announcement of government’s intention to appeal the ruling made by the Constitutional Court, Mr. Samuels said he welcomes news of the appeal.

Moving forward, Thompson will be tasked with the critical duty of overseeing the direction of public prosecutions. She will be spearheading critical decisions that have the potential to shape the legal landscape of our society for the better. As a leader, Thompson is expected to inspire trust, maintain transparency, and uphold the rule of law in the public’s best interest.