The Magistracy of Belize is committed to delivering justice with fairness, integrity, and respect for the rule of law. We ensure that every individual is treated impartially and their constitutional rights are protected. Through accessible services, timely processes, and transparent operations, we work to build public trust and strengthen confidence in the justice system. Our focus remains on improving procedures, embracing modern technology, and enhancing efficiency and accessibility for all.
Through accessible services, timely processes, and transparent operations, we work to build public trust and strengthen confidence in the justice system.
It provides accessible judicial services, including case filing, hearings, and legal information for the public.
To foster and maintain a judicial system characterized by fairness, integrity and efficiency founded upon the rule of law with the aim of inspiring public confidence engendered by competence and responsiveness to the diversity and ever evolving character of the society.
To administer justice in an impartial and independent manner in accordance with the law ensuring fairness and equal treatment for all persons and affording protection in respect of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in and guaranteed under the Constitution of Belize.
Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers was appointed to the highest office of the Magistracy in March 2026, marking a milestone in a decade-long career dedicated to justice, equity, and public service. A trailblazer in the legal field, she holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Criminal Justice from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, earned through the prestigious Chevening Scholarship in 2021. Her legal journey began at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where she completed her Bachelor of Laws in 2012, followed by her Legal Education Certificate at Norman Manley Law School in 2014. In 2015, she broke ground as a Magistrate in Belize, quickly becoming a respected and influential figure in the Judiciary.
Chief Magistrate Rogers is fiercely passionate about the transformative power of the law and its impact on society, especially for at-risk youth and vulnerable opulations. Her extensive legal experience spans across the country, where she has cultivated a dynamic network of justice sector stakeholders and championed progressive approaches to criminal justice. Her leadership vision is clear and ambitious, to implement forward-thinking policies that reduce recidivism, deepen public engagement with the justice system, and expand equitable access to legal resources. Above all, she is committed to restoring and strengthening public confidence in the Magistracy, one principled decision at a time.
Chief Magistrate
Welcome to the official website of the Magistracy of Belize. This is our first website dedicated to helping the public understand how we operate and what to expect when interacting with our courts across Belize. This website reflects our commitment to improving the accessibility and efficiency of the Magistrate Courts. In an age of digitization, we acknowledge the demand for information to be readily available. We believe that it is vital for the Magistracy to adapt to meet this demand for change. Though we have not incorporated e-filing features, our website was created to be the core resource for anyone who seeks information about Magistrate Court proceedings. We address frequently asked questions like what bail is, what to expect when attending court, how to lodge your own civil suit for small debts or landlord and tenant matters. Our website was created for the benefit of the everyday litigant who is unrepresented and has no legal training.
We have modified our internal procedures to ensure the efficient balance of our significant case-loads and utilize all resources available to our Magistrates and staff to effect these changes. The use of case management in scheduling trials, accommodating requests for virtual hearings, encouraging plea by post facilities for traffic matters and consent order judgments in civil cases are just some of the ways we strive to minimize delays and provide guidance to the public. As we continue to grow, we have invested in the necessary technology to assist our team in bringing life to a more modern, accessible and user-friendly court.
Our team of Magistrates and Staff are proud to serve the Belizean public and we are firmly dedicated to ensuring that justice at the Magistracy is executed with the ultimate degree of efficiency and integrity.
Take a tour of the website and know that we are ever grateful for all the support and cooperation we receive in our efforts to improve access to justice.
Director
Country of Birth: Shanti Morrison-Novelo was born in Belize
Nationality: Belizean
Law School Attended: Norman Manley Law School – 2012 – 2014. – Legal Education Certificate.
A warm Belizean welcome to our website.
The Belize Family Court understands that family-related matters are among the most stressful situations a family can face, often involving deeply personal, private, and sensitive issues. We also recognize that navigating family law can be complex, whether it involves children, maintenance, custody, domestic matters, or juvenile justice.
Our goal at the Family Court is to treat everyone who comes before the court with confidence, dignity, and respect. We strive to make our services more transparent, time-efficient, and accessible to the public.
The purpose of this website is to provide you with valuable information about our services, court procedures, and your rights and responsibilities, whether you are preparing for a court appearance or simply seeking general knowledge about the Court.
The Family Court remains committed to upholding the rule of law and promoting the best interests of families and children who come into contact with, or conflict with, the law. We encourage you to explore our updated website for resources, guidance, and important information to assist you in navigating family-related matters.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours in Justice,
Shanti Morrison-Novelo
Director
Belize Family Court
Magistrate
Magistrate David R. P. Edmund is an Attorney-at-Law with almost a decade of legal experience in criminal, civil, and family litigation across the Caribbean. He was admitted to practise in Trinidad and Tobago in 2016, Grenada in 2021, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2022. Prior to his appointment to the Judiciary of Belize in March 2026, he served as Partner at Jus Pro Attorneys-at-Law, where he appeared regularly before the High Courts, Master Courts and District Courts in Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.
Magistrate Edmund holds a Legal Education Certificate from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Science in Government and International Relations (First Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies.
He has been recognised for academic and advocacy excellence, including serving as Valedictorian of the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies and winning the Human Rights Public Speaking Competition at the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School.
As a Magistrate in Belize, he presides over matters within the summary criminal, civil, and family jurisdictions of the Magistrates’ Courts, including bail hearings, preliminary enquiries, domestic violence applications, family proceedings, and inquests.
Outside of his judicial duties, Magistrate Edmund enjoys outdoor adventures, cooking, travelling for cultural experiences, contributing to youth development initiatives and volunteer work.
Senior Magistrate
Senior Magistrate Sashawna Jody-Ann Thompson, a Jamaican-born Resident Magistrate, serves within the Belize Magistracy, bringing regional legal experience and a strong commitment to justice.
She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of the West Indies (Mona) and her Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School. She is called to the Bar of Attorneys in two jurisdictions, Belize and Jamaica. She began her career as a defense attorney in Jamaica before transitioning into the Belize Magistracy Department, where she has served for over several years. In 2026, she was promoted to Senior Magistrate in recognition of her dedication to the Magistracy.
A recipient of the highly coveted Jamaican National Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in the category of Leadership (2024), Senior Magistrate Thompson is praised for her impact beyond the courtroom.
Her professional development includes training in court-annexed criminal mediation and certifications in first response and digital forensics in criminology. She has accumulated countless certifications and recognition in the field of law.
She continues to work diligently in the Magistracy to inform, protect and promote justice in Belize.
Sincerely,
Sashawna Thompson
Senior Magistrate
Magistrate
Nationality: Belizean
Magistrate
Ms. Rochelle Duncan is a Magistrate of the Family Court with extensive experience in legal research, advocacy, and litigation management across both civil and criminal jurisdictions.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as Crown Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers in Jamaica, where she represented the Government of Jamaica in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Parish Courts. In that role, she conducted complex legal research, initiated and defended civil proceedings on behalf of government ministries and agencies, and participated in mediation and settlement negotiations. Her work involved advising on matters of public law, litigation strategy, and evidence evaluation.
Prior to this, she practiced at the private bar in St. Kitts and Nevis, where she managed litigation matters, drafted legal submissions, advised clients, and prepared evidentiary materials for court proceedings.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to justice, the rule of law, and the protection of vulnerable persons. Her work has also extended beyond the courtroom through advocacy initiatives addressing domestic violence, human trafficking, and support for women and children.
As a Magistrate of the Family Court, she brings a thoughtful and principled approach to adjudication, guided by a commitment to fairness, careful legal reasoning, and the welfare of families and children who come before the court.
Magistrate
Country of Birth: Belize
Nationality: Belizean
Magistrate with 14 years of experience in the legal system. Currently presiding over civil and criminal cases in the Belize District Family Court.
Magistrate
Jana L. Peccoo currently serves as a Magistrate in Belize and is an accomplished attorney-at-law with a strong foundation in statutory interpretation, legal research, and regulatory analysis. She holds a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science (major) and International Relations (minor) from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. She is admitted to practice and is a member of the Jamaica Bar Association.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Jana served as In-House Counsel within a leading professional services firm, where she developed specialized expertise in tax law, including the interpretation of the Income Tax Act and General Consumption Tax Act. She prepared detailed legal opinions, initiated proceedings, and advanced structured legal arguments in complex matters, demonstrating strong analytical and advocacy skills.
Her professional experience encompasses tax, employment, and immigration law. She is widely regarded for her attention to detail and unwavering commitment to fairness. As a Magistrate, she is dedicated to upholding the rule of law, ensuring procedural integrity, and delivering consistent and impartial judicial decisions.
Magistrate
Magistrate Adele Acosta was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree with Honours from the University of London before acquiring her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School.
Following her admission to the bar in 2015, she established herself as a versatile Attorney-at-Law focusing on the key areas of Criminal defence, Civil law, and Family law. Beyond her core legal training, she is qualified in several specialized disciplines, including Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Negotiation, as well as Occupational Health and Safety and Project Management.
Throughout her tenure in private practice, Magistrate Acosta demonstrated a strong commitment to social justice by serving the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, where she provided essential legal advice and representation to citizens who could not afford private services. Her dedication to advocacy was further evidenced by her work as Panel Duty Counsel, through which she provided legal representation to juvenile offenders and individuals detained or charged with capital offenses. She later applied her legal expertise as a Legal Officer with the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, a specialized agency dedicated to advocating for the care, protection, and rights of children.
Magistrate Acosta has also made significant contributions to public service and healthcare governance through her appointment to the Board of Directors of the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). In her capacity as a director, she oversaw administrative policies and governance for healthcare in collaboration with various local, regional, and international health specialist organizations.
On April 1, 2025, she was officially sworn in by Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman as a Magistrate of the Family Court of Belize. In her current judicial role, she presides over family law matters, domestic disputes, and juvenile justice within the Belizean judicial system while also serving as a member of the Criminal Justice Board of the Senior Courts of Belize.
