Dame Janice Pereira DBE LLD, our esteemed Chief Justice, birthed and shared the vision for the formation of a women judges’ association. On 27th October 2022, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Association of Women Judges (ECAWJ) was incorporated as a non-profit company under the Companies Act of Saint Lucia. The ECAWJ was formally launched on 5th March 2024 as part of the Court’s 57th anniversary celebrations. See photos from the launch.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is established. Until 1982 it is served by esteemed jurists, all of whom are male.
Justice Monica Joseph becomes the first woman appointed to serve as a High Court Judge.
Justices Ola Mae Edwards, Janice George-Creque and Indra Hariprashad-Charles sit in Antigua and Barbuda.
Dame Janice Pereira is appointed the first female Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
Incorporated on 27 October 2022 and formally launched on 5 March 2024 during the Court’s 57th anniversary celebrations.
A tribute to the women who opened the way on the bench of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, marking the Court’s 57th anniversary.
The main objective of the Association is to promote greater understanding and a better resolution of legal issues facing women, and issues concerning female judicial officers.
Share this mission? Become a member or see how members serve in our communities.
“As a young organisation, we have the opportunity to chart our course and to impact the lives of women and girls in our Member States and Territories. The support we can provide to each other is immeasurable and must not be diminished in any way.”
From the President’s Report 2024 to 2025, which records growth in membership, the appointment of our first Patron, the adoption of the ECAWJ logo, the launch of Lady Justice and our first Creative Competition.
Also from the President: Message for the International Day of Judicial Wellbeing 2026.
Pursuant to section 5.4 of its By-Laws, the Association appointed Dame Janice Pereira as its first Patron for a period of five years effective 1 June 2024. She was declared first Patron on 7 August 2024 and formally recognised at a social gathering of the Annual Judicial Conference in August 2024.
The first female judge from Virgin Gorda, Dame Janice became the first female Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in 2012 and served 12 years in that role.
A conversation with our Patron, recorded on 4 March 2025. Her interview also appears in Lady Justice Issue 1.
The directors and executive officers who lead the Association. Select any member to read their office, duties and biography.
The first directors and executive officers of the Association, as introduced in Lady Justice Issue 1 at our launch in March 2024.
ECAWJ salutes CAWJ and TTAWJ as the trailblazers who supported our own launch (read about their 10th anniversary), and pledges support to our sister organisations Barbados (BAWJ), Bahamas (CBAWJ), Jamaica (JAWJ), and Guyana (GAWJ) associations.
Caribbean Association of Women Judges
Trinidad and Tobago Association of Women Judges
International Association of Women Judges
National Association of Women Judges
Did you know?
ECAWJ is part of the umbrella body of the Caribbean Association of Women Judges (CAWJ), which in turn falls under the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). Our members can join both, and take part in their conferences, activities and opportunities such as IAWJ scholarship offers.
In appreciation
The logo depicts the diversity of our membership across the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s nine member states and territories, the shared vision of members, the support of women holding each other and the balance women have to strike between the many roles which they perform daily. The vibrant colour represents the impact and influence which women judicial officers have from the spice isle of Grenada in the south to the unique blend of islands in the north, the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
Joi Sandiford
