Llewellyn bids farewell after 17 years as DPP
Published:Wednesday | September 17, 2025 | 12:19 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
“It has been the privilege of my life,” declared outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn on Tuesday as she delivered her final official address at the opening of the Michaelmas Term at the Home Circuit Court.
Her remarks marked the close of an outstanding 17-year tenure and a distinguished 41-year legal career dedicated to justice in Jamaica.
In an emotional and reflective speech, Llewellyn highlighted the profound honour of serving the public, overseeing the evolution of the Office of the DPP under her leadership, and appearing in numerous high-profile matters, including the infamous Good Samaritan murder, the Mary Lynch case, the controversial extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, and the Donald Phipps murder case.
“I’ll simply say that it has been a privilege of my life to have been able to live my passion every day of the 41 years in giving public service, and also enjoying being an advocate, dealing with the positives and negatives of the regime, building a first-class office with a number of units, and working with and seeing the development of so many fine prosecutors who have gone on the bench or to prosecuting agencies all over the Caribbean.”
She added with a smile, “And, along the way, I also didn’t do so badly as a mother, as hard as I have worked.”
Llewellyn recounted her journey as the first female and youngest person to be appointed director of public prosecutions in 2008, after a rigorous selection process. At the time, she had already amassed more than two decades of courtroom experience. Her leadership spanned a transformative era in the office, where she spearheaded modernisation efforts, including the digitalisation of case management systems.
“The Office of the DPP, certainly under my tenure, has begun digitising all our records,” she said, pointing to the new formatting of the overview of cases for the new term, which now provides a comprehensive breakdown of all matters.
“We’ve commenced digitalisation of the systems, which now allows for easier retrieval of files. All the files are being scanned and uploaded to the system,” she noted, citing achievements like electronic disclosure and the strategic use of trained paralegals to manage files.
TRANSFORMATION
Under her leadership, the Office of the DPP grew from a modest unit of about 20 prosecutors and a handful of administrative staff in 2008 to a robust institution with capacity for 70 prosecutors and 60 administrative professionals now on staff.
She noted that these improvements have elevated Jamaica’s prosecutorial service to become one of the most respected in the Caribbean.
“A lot of the other islands farm out some of their work to defence counsel or even overseas counsel, but the DPP’s Office here prosecutes all its cases –no matter how complex – and we also appear before the Court of Appeal,” she said with pride, adding that Jamaican prosecutors are now in demand across the region.
She also highlighted Jamaica’s reputation as the top-ranked Caribbean country for responsiveness in extradition and mutual legal assistance cases, according to international stakeholders from the US, UK, and Canada.
Acknowledging the growing challenges posed by social media and public opinion, Llewellyn emphasised the importance of transparency and accurate information in maintaining trust in the justice system.
“We must ensure that the public understands the law and the reasons behind prosecutorial decisions,” she said.
Looking ahead, she expressed confidence in her successor and urged a continued focus on improving operational efficiency.
Llewellyn concluded her address with heartfelt thanks to prosecutors, judges past and present, defence counsel, police, court staff, and the media, for their support throughout her career.
She gave special recognition to her mentor, President of the Court of Appeal Marva McDonald-Bishop, who, she said, took her under her wing, “sandpapered her down”, and taught her the traditions of the Bar and what it takes to be an excellent prosecutor.
She also thanked the public for their prayers and support, “especially when the slings and arrows have come at me”.
Senior lawyer Anthony Williams, representing the Jamaican Bar Association, praised Llewellyn for her deep passion for the law and her transformational leadership.
King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie described her as “perhaps the most consequential female attorney at the criminal bar”, adding that her mentorship benefited both public and private practitioners, including himself.
Justice Leighton Pusey recalled first encountering Llewellyn as a young prosecutor and being struck by her mastery of the law, her ability to charm jurors, and the courtroom drama she was known for.
“She is groundbreaking as the first lady DPP, but she has been that outstanding lawyer and I am sure we will see more of her as we go along,” he said.