Roseau, Dominica, December 8, 2025-The High Court in Dominica has ruled in favour of former Prime Minister Edison James who went to court challenging the decision of Senior Magistrate Michael Laudat to place him in the holding cells of the court on February 16, 2025 while awaiting possible bail after dismissing a “no case submission put forward by James’ lawyer ruling that the prosecution had “proved its case and sent the matter to the High Court.”
James living the court in February 2025 after being granted bail.
The court ruled that the Magistrate erred in his decision to have James immediately placed in the cells and awarded EC$8,000.00 as compensation. The State is also charged with paying all its legal costs for the matter.
The 80-year-old former prime minister was charged with “encouraging, persuading, or instigating by words, causing persons to jeopardize the safety or endanger the public peace, following a United Workers Party (UWP) on February 7, 2017, at which calls were made for the resignation of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
The former Dominica prime minister was later released on EC$50,000 bail with one surety after spending an estimated 20 minutes in a holding cell in a magistrate’s court after he was committed to stand trial at the High Court on a charge of incitement.
“I always expected him to do that. I said to him directly that I do not believe it is appropriate for a magistrate on contract to handle highly political cases, as the case involving me,” James said, adding, “he is under pressure, and I did not expect him not to send the matter to trial.
“So, I understand the process once it is decided to send it to trial. It could involve committing to jail or a secure place until the trial is held. But then there is bail available, and the magistrate could have offered bail straight away.
“I get the distinct impression that he was bent on sending me to jail…which he did,” James said, adding “I don’t know why…”
“I have never been in a cell before, but life goes on,” he said, noting that the police “felt a way” in accompanying him to the holding cell.
The matter was first sent to mediation, but the parties were not able to reach an amicable solution, hence the trial.
Speaking to Nature Isle News (NIN), James welcomed the ruling, declaring the decision “a vindication of his constitutional rights,” which he said were “violated.”
James stressed that the case was “not about money but about vindicating his rights.”
“The law provides the opportunity to request bail, and for bail to be considered before any further action is taken; instead, I was committed to imprisonment without that right being respected. The High Court has now affirmed that my freedom cannot be taken away in such a manner,” he said.
He expressed regret that “Magistrate Laudat had found himself in a situation where his actions breached the rights of a citizen,” stating that the case should serve as “a reminder of the judiciary’s responsibility to uphold the rule of law.”
This ruling sends a wider message about accountability, and breaches of rights by judicial officers not only harm individuals but also cost the state thousands of dollars.”
He also called on citizens who feel that their constitutional rights have been violated to go to the court and seek redress.
James was represented in the High Court matter by Queen’s Counsel Thomas and Joelle Harris, while Attorney Gildon Richards represented him in the magistrate’s court.
Edison James served as the prime minister of Dominica between 1995-2000 and has been at the center of the alleged incitement case, including former opposition leader Lennox Linton and the current UWP leader and economist, Dr. Thomson Fontaine. The matter was thrown out at the High Court but the State has since appealed.