Some of the Island's best legal minds will unveil a report this June recommending changes to improve the efficiency of the justice system.

The Justice System Review Committee has been meeting for two months under the direction of Chairman Justice Norma Wade Miller with the aim of improving the overall efficiency of the criminal and civil courts.

At a Press Conference yesterday afternoon, Larry Mussenden said the report would chart the way forward in establishing a high quality justice system for Bermuda.

He said one of the aims of the report was to encourage more lawyers to get involved in criminal defence work to alleviate the number of cases dealt with on the criminal bar. "We are looking for more ways to get lawyers to be involved who are Bermudian and specifically lawyers who are involved in the criminal bar. The criminal defence bar is small, we are keen to promote and recruit people into criminal work," he said.

Mr. Mussenden said the right balance needed to be struck between younger criminal lawyers and those who have more experience. "I don't have a particular target in terms of numbers but what we really need to do is expand the pool so we can have more top rate lawyers in the criminal area," he said.

The report also looks at improving the efficiency of the civil justice system, including the arrangements for establishing a commercial division of the Supreme Court and updating the Rules of the Supreme Court.

"I have seen the report and am happy to note that the recommendations contained in the report have satisfied the terms of reference and will serve as the way forward for the Government," said Mr. Mussenden.

"Some of the recommendations will require a change in the way we do things, others will require a range of financial support.

"We in the Government and justice system have a lot of work to do."

He said he would share the report with his Cabinet colleagues and then have it tabled in the House when it is made public. The recommendations would also be shared with Chief Justice Richard Ground, who served on the Committee.

Norma Wade Miller, who was Chairman of the Committee said the report would lead to action and would not be left on the shelf to gather dust. "Bermuda has a justice system which is overdue for renovation. We believe that there is a broad consensus that the interests of justice are no longer adequately served by certain aspects of the system as it now stands," she said.

In handing over the report to the Attorney General, Mrs. Justice Wade Miller said she expected it to produce results. "In handing this to you Sir, let me express my hope that our recommendations will find favour with you and your colleagues, and that they will lead to the action that Bermuda's justice system so sorely needs."

Some of the recommendations in the report were to:

?Establish a list of priorities for the justice system;

?Consider means for the elimination of the backlog of cases awaiting criminal trial;

?Consider the improvements that are needed to ensure the efficient administrative functioning of the courts including a method for court reporting and a computerised system for records;

?Consider ways to improve judicial training;

?Consider criminal law reforms necessary to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system;

?Civil justice reforms to establish a commercial division of the Supreme Court and for updating the rules of the Supreme Court;

?Consider initiatives to enhance the promotion and recruitment of Bermudians working within the judicial and legal services and the private legal sector