Dorothy Pine-McLarty, esteemed attorney and electoral leader, dies
Published:Monday | December 1, 2025 | 12:10 AM
Jamaica is mourning the passing of Dorothy Pine-McLarty, a transformative figure in the development of Jamaica’s modern electoral system.
Pine-McLarty, who was widely regarded as one of Jamaica’s leading property attorneys, built a reputation for excellence over decades of legal practice, amassing a loyal clientele and breaking barriers within the profession before her retirement a few years ago. In 1973, she became the first woman partner of the law firm Myers, Fletcher & Gordon, later serving as the first managing partner of the firm’s London office.
Her influence, however, reached far beyond the courtroom. Pine-McLarty made significant contributions to both the public and private sectors, earning respect across political and corporate lines. A long-standing director of the Jamaica National Group, she also served on several major national boards and committees throughout her career.
Electoral service
Her most impactful public service came through her work in electoral governance. Pine-McLarty joined the then Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) in December 2000 as a selected commissioner. She later became the first woman to chair its successor, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), in 2013, serving until her retirement on December 31, 2019.
During her 19-year tenure at the EAC/ECJ, she oversaw four parliamentary elections, four local government elections, multiple by-elections, and the national residence reverification project. She also guided the implementation of the Electronic Voter Identification System at select polling stations and played a key role in the establishment of the long-awaited political parties registration and election campaign financing framework.
In recognition of her national service, Pine-McLarty was awarded the Order of Jamaica in 2017, the country’s fourth-highest honour. She also received the 2016 Gleaner Honour Award for Public Service.
She continued her commitment to public accountability even after retirement – being reappointed a year ago as a member of the Access to Information Appeal Tribunal.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness led tributes to the late attorney, describing her as a patriot who served with “courage and grace”.
“Mrs Pine-McLarty dedicated her life to strengthening our democracy, upholding integrity, and serving the Jamaican people ... ,” he said. “She was a truly exceptional attorney … and a public servant in the truest sense.”
The prime minister extended condolences to her family, colleagues, and the many Jamaicans whose lives were touched by her work.