Wanda Pedro v The Minister Of Legal Affairs And Constitutional Reform Attorney-General

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Citation	[2022] SC (Bda) 91 Civ. 25 November 2022
Case Number	2021: No. 37
Date	2022-11-25
Court	Supreme Court
Jurisdiction	Civil
Judge	this Court dated 26 September 2022. Ms. Pedro appeared in person and the
Document Type	Ruling

Plaintiff	WANDA PEDRO
Defendant	THE MINISTER OF LEGAL AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Counsel (Defendant)	Brian Moodie, Attorney-General’s Chambers

Full Text

[2022] SC (Bda) 91 Civ. 25 November 2022 In The Supreme Court Of Bermuda

CIVIL JURISDICTION

2021: No. 37

BETWEEN:

WANDA PEDRO

Plaintiff -and-

(1) THE MINISTER OF LEGAL AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

(2) ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Defendants Before: The Hon. Chief Justice Appearances: Ms. Wanda Pedro, Plaintiff in Person Mr. Brian Moodie, Attorney-General’s Chambers, for the Defendants Date of Hearing: 17 November 2022 Date of Ruling: 25 November 2022

RULING

(Leave to Appeal)

HARGUN CJ

1. On 17 November 2022 the Court heard Ms. Pedro’s application for leave to appeal the judgment of this Court dated 26 September 2022. Ms. Pedro appeared in person and the Defendants were represented by Mr Moodie. At the hearing lasted approximately 55 minutes. Ms. Pedro presentation lasted approximately 45 minutes.

2. At the beginning of the hearing the Court advised Ms. Pedro that in order to obtain leave she had to show that her grounds of appeal were arguable.

3. Ms. Pedro’s presentation was largely a repeat of the submissions she had made at the main hearing on 26 July and the contention that this Court should not be relying upon the judgment of Wheatley AJ dated 28 November 2019 or the judgment of the Court of Appeal dated 19 March 2021.

4. Ms. Pedro did not specifically deal with the Grounds of Appeal set out in the Notice of Motion dated 6 October 2022.

5. It is clear to the Court that Ms. Pedro generally feels that she has suffered a wrong at the hands of the Department of Child and Family Services and the Magistrates who presided over the matters in question. However, the issue for the court is to determine whether Ms. Pedro’s 2

complaints give rise to sustainable causes of action which she is able to pursue at this time in this Court.

6. The Court has reviewed the Grounds of Appeal set out in the Notice of Motion and has come to the view that the Grounds of Appeal do not disclose any arguable ground of appeal which as any realistic prospect of success. Accordingly, the Court dismisses Ms. Pedro’s application for leave to appeal the judgment of this Court dated 26 September 2022 to the Court of Appeal.

7. The Court will hear the parties in relation to the issue of costs, if required. Dated this 25th day of November 2022 __________________________