NAME: Senator the Hon. Dorothy Casieta Lightbourne, B.A.

PERSONAL: Born in Aeolus Valley, St. Thomas

Educated at Addey and Stanhope Grammar School (London), Wolmer’s Girls’ School (Jamaica) & Hull University (England)

Employed to the Inner London Education Authority as a Teacher

Called to the Bar (London’s Inn) in 1970 and entered Private Practice at the English Bar

Entered Private Practice in Jamaica in 1973

PROFESSION: Attorney-at-Law

APPOINTMENT: Currently Government Senator, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice since 2007

Served as Government Senator between 1984-1989, and was a Past Deputy President of the Senate

Served as Opposition Senator until 2007

ORGANISATIONS: Member of the General Legal Council of Jamaica and Past Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee

Member of the Bar Council

Past Deputy President of the Jamaican Bar Association

DENOMINATION: Anglican

CLUB: Member of the St. Andrew Business & Professional Women’s Club

HOBBIES: Reading, Music, Country walks

Section 79(1) of the Constitution of Jamaica provides that “ there shall be an Attorney General who shall be the principal legal adviser to the Government of Jamaica�? and pursuant to the Crown Proceedings Act all civil proceedings by or against the Government are instituted in the name of the Attorney General.

The Attorney General carries out various functions and powers, and she may initiate or intervene in certain legal proceedings of a public nature. For example:

a)Under the Patent law, the Attorney General’s certificate that an application for Letters Patent is legally in order is a prerequisite of the grant.
b) She may institute proceedings to prevent the continuation of public nuisance.
c) She may on her own initiative, or on application of a third party, institute proceedings in respect of any statutory duties. [more]