As a public authority, the Law Courts of the Cayman Islands is committed to openness, transparency and serving the public interest in compliance with the Freedom of Information Law in the Cayman Islands.

The Freedom of Information Act, (2021 Revision) The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (2021 Revision) was first passed on 19 October 2007 and came into effect in January 2009 passed which, gives the public a right of access to all types of records held by public authorities but also sets out some exemptions from that right.

EXEMPTIONS
Part III of the Act addresses exempt records.  It is also to be noted that court records are also governed by rules of court.

PUBLICATION SCHEME
As required by law, the Law Courts maintains a  Publication Scheme,  through which we make information readily available to the public without the need for specific written requests. These include:

• Credit Card Claims;
• International Travel Expenses;
• Gift Register;

ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS
If any person wishes to obtain a written reason for an administrative decision made by the Judicial Administration, please submit a request in writing to the attention of the Court Administrator stating the decision for which you are seeking a reason. Please email: Suzanne.Bothwell@judicial.ky

FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW COURTS

Mission:
“The courts are an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the administration of justice and the preservation of the rule of law and, in so doing, the protection of the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the Cayman Islands.”

MAKING AN FOI APPLICATION
To make an FOI application, please email:

FOI CONTACT
Information Manager:  Shiona Allenger
The Judicial Administration
61 Albert Panton Street
P.O. Box 495, Grand Cayman  KY1-1106
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Tel: (345)244-3817
Email: foi@judicial.ky
Before submitting a FOI request, please check our website to see if the information you may be requesting is already publicly available.

INTERNAL REVIEW
If you make a request under the Freedom of Information Act and are not satisfied with our response, you are entitled to an internal review. If you believe you are entitled to an internal review, please put your appeal in writing and either e-mail or post it to the Information Manager. Include your name, address, telephone number and the reference number at the top of our letter or e-mail to you. You have 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of a refusal to request an internal review. Please explain why you would like us to review our original response.

Under section 33 of the FOI Act, you may ask for an Internal Review of a response to your request:

• If you were refused access;
• If you were granted partial access to the record(s) specified in your application;
• If your request was deferred;
• If there was a refusal to amend or annotate an official document containing personal information; or
• If a fee was charged for action taken* or if you disagree with the amount of the fee charged;
• where the decision was taken by a person other than the responsible Minister, Chief Officer or Principal Officer of the public authority.

APPEALS TO THE OMBUDSMAN
If you are dissatisfied with the internal review of our decision, or an internal review was not available, you can seek an appeal from The Ombudsman’s Office. Email: info@ombudsman.ky

Last Updated: February 2023