The Court of Appeal on Friday reserved judgement in the case concerning King’s Counsel Paula Llewellyn’s post as director of public prosecutions.

Justice of Appeal Jennifer Straw said the judgement would be handed down “as early as possible” in the new term, which begins in September. The current court term ends July 30. 

“Counsel, the panel would like to thank all of you for your extensive submissions. Of course, you know we will have to kick back and consider all the authorities and the submissions to arrive at our judgement in this matter,” Straw said.

“We understand it is a sensitive matter… and some urgency is required to deal with it, but we still have to do our due diligence,” Straw added. 

The hearing came to a conclusion Friday after lawyers for the attorney general, Llewellyn and People’s National Party members Phillip Paulwell and Peter Bunting spent the week arguing their case with the hopes of swaying the court in their favour.  

The appeal was brought after the Full Court of the Supreme Court in April struck down Section 2 (2) of the Constitution, which was passed in 2023 after the Public Service Commission refused to extend Llewellyn’s term as DPP. 

The case was brought by Paulwell and Bunting and the Full Court ruled in their favour, describing at the time Section 2 (2) as unconstitutional. 

Llewellyn had prior to that stepped aside from the post and one of her deputies, Claudette Thompson, was appointed to act as the nation’s chief prosecutor. 

The attorney general of Jamaica, appearing for the government and Douglas Leys, King’s Counsel, who represents Llewellyn, are asking the court to overturn the decision of the Full Court. 

King’s Counsel Michael Hylton and Kevin Powell, who appear for Paulwell and Bunting, have argued otherwise.