Anglin to ‘chip in’ on costs for same-sex unions JR

| 05/11/2021 | 81 Comments
Kattina Anglin

(CNS): The Grand Court has upheld a decision by the legal aid director requiring Kattina Anglin to contribute towards the cost of the judicial review, which she successfully secured, of the governor’s use of his powers to implement legislation providing for same-sex civil unions. Because Anglin is soliciting funds for the legal fight through the Christian Association for Civics and also has cash in her own bank, at least two sources of income and a government stipend, the legal aid boss had ordered Anglin to chip in $4,000 towards the latest legal aid award to cover the cost of bringing the case.

However, while he has upheld the decision that Anglin must contribute, the judge has stated on more than one occasion that this is a public interest case.

In the application to set aside the order by Darlene Oko, the legal aid director, to pay the $4,000, Anglin had argued that the calculation was wrong based on her means and that not all the funds in the association’s bank account were for this cases.

But she had also argued that she should not be required to pay in any event because this case is constitutionally important, with wider implications beyond its impact on civil partnerships, since it relates to the actual powers of the governor’s office and how they should be used.

Justice Richard Williams, who is presiding over the full judicial review, which is scheduled to be heard in December, found that the legal aid director was right in her calculations and reasons for requiring the contribution, not least because Anglin had solicited the funds on social media through the Christian association, of which she is a leading member. But he left the door open for the question of the legal aid contribution to be reconsidered by the director of legal aid, given the importance of this issue.

“As stated in my leave for judicial review Judgment, this is a case of significant public interest and concerns an issue of significant constitutional importance,” he wrote in the conclusions of his judgment. “One would, in such circumstances, expect the Director to carefully consider whether she should exercise her discretion under s.19(4) of the [Legal Aid Act (2015 Revision)].

“Although, from the material before me and the submissions of Ms Oko, the Court can see that the public interest element was considered in relation to the granting of legal aid and extensions of the grant especially for the engagement of Lead Counsel, I am unable to deduce what consideration was given to exercising the discretion under s.19(4) of the Act.”

He said it was right that Anglin contribute the funds from the Christian association collected for the purpose. Nevertheless, he advised that the contribution condition order could be review, but to do so in any meaningful way, the director “would understandably require a full and frank accounting of the funds” in the association’s bank account, especially if it is being contended by Anglin that some of those funds were not donations towards her legal aid costs.

“It might also helpful if the application to open the bank account was provided, as this would show when the account was opened and possibly the purpose of the account,” he said, adding that he was not trying to fetter the discretion of the legal aid director but was offering guidance should Anglin apply for extensions to her legal aid.

So far Anglin has received several thousand dollars from the public purse to pursue the case, which at the heart of it is a challenge to Governor Martyn Roper’s decision to use his powers under section 80 of the Constitution instead of an order in council to implement the Civil Partnership Act.

While the law itself has been of concern to Anglin and other Christian conservatives, she has argued that the main purpose of the judicial review is to challenge what she believes is the misuse of the Constitution to impose the law.

The costs of the case are set to increase as Anglin has hired Hugh Southey QC, an expert in public law from the UK, to lead the legal team presenting the JR application.

See the full ruling on the courts’ online register, search G 0169 of 2020.


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Category: Laws, Politics

Comments (81)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Whole lotta Hate here. Is that normal?

  2. Anonymous says:

    Religion is very good at weaponizing simple minds.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Come and have your same-sex weddings in the UK! It probably won’t be on a beach, but it’ll still be fabulous.

  4. Anonymous says:

    …Kattina…snooze…

  5. Anonymous says:

    Let’s see… spend my days fighting world hunger, pollution, crime, child abuse, illiteracy, deforestation, racism, sexism? Nope, I vow to dedicate my life to fighting against people in love who want to get married. Yeah, that’s the path I want for my time on Earth.

    Tragic.

    • Anonymous says:

      So called Christians , is the main cause of all wars, and now this foolishnes, spending tax payers money,same sex unions are not hurting them or anyone. If they want to something useful, do something about crime, traffic, children abuse etc, etc, etc.

  6. Al Catraz says:

    What a sad and pointless thing to waste your life on – interfering in none of one’s business.

  7. Anonymous says:

    It is a shame she is spending good money to ensure her name ends up on the wrong side of history. It is also disturbing that she is being used by the deep pockets in this civics association to propagate hatred and discrimination all while clutching their bibles as a means of justifying their actions. What about being tolerant, respecting others, spreading love and peace. Like the millions of other Christians around the world. I know Ms Anglin is passionate about the subject, many of us are. However, if I were her, I would not hitch my cart to this horse. She will find herself very lonely when her backers stop returning her call when this does not go her way.

  8. Anonymous says:

    She looks even worse now. Imagine wasting your own money on a foolish case. Be honest Anglin, this isn’t about the Governor supposedly abusing his power; it’s about you being homophobic and doing everything you can to tear families apart!

  9. Slacker says:

    Time to form the Atheist Association for Civics.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Marriage is hugely overrated, just don’t do it.

  11. make her pay says:

    Anglin should have to pay the ENTIRE legal expenses for her side of the case — as well as the other side’s expenses when she loses the case.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Utterly miserable story, about a miserable woman.

    I hope that her entire neighborhood is taken over by gay couples.

    • Anonymous says:

      We have good taste and money, so that would be too much of a gift. But knowing how many non heterosexual people are in Cayman, chances are we are there long time.
      Each homophobic person needs to give a good look around or simply look in the mirror, which is often the case. And wake the heck up.

    • Devon says:

      What a waste of time. Why doesn’t she chip in and help women suffering from domestic violence, rape victims and child abuse cases?

      Why doesn’t she help to turn drug addicts into productive citizens.

      Come on Katina you can do better

      • Anonymous says:

        “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.”

        Are you confusing submission with violence? This is the source of her funding, so she can’t argue against biblical teachings.

      • Anonymous says:

        Because those types of people attend church.

  13. Anonymous says:

    One of the worst cases of denial in history.

  14. Anonymous says:

    We should all chip in. As a straight British PR granted expat here, I would give the same money to legalizing abortion and gay marriage (along with what I already give to meals on wheels and feed out future). Only until Cayman is fair to all, can Cayman catch up with the rest of the world on the income gap.

  15. Anonymous says:

    “Of public interest”? I am public and not interested in this waste of public money.

  16. Anonymous says:

    This is just embarrassing. She seemed like a Cayman success story but then it turns out that she just discriminates against people. So ignorant. And on top of that she’s somehow getting the stipend? Just horrible.

  17. Anonymous says:

    “…at least two sources of income….and a government stipend..”. Disgusting!! People supporting her should see her real aim! Milking the system!!

    I’m a sixty-something Caymanian-born retiree on a nice pension, from 40 years of hard work and taking available training opportunities to better myself, so as to retire at a senior level of my organization. I am eligible for the tourism stipend as my tourism business has been dormant since March last year. I have NOT applied for nor am I receiving the government stipend because I don’t believe in greedy double-dipping!

    People who try to get everything they can from public resources, whether they NEED or not, are leeches! Caymanian or not!!

    Public “systems” here are too naive, lenient, unaccountable or downright corrupt!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Post your email address, I’d love to help you.

    • Anonymous says:

      I’m in the same boat as you. My tourism business is done, but thankfully am in a position where I don’t need the stipend and believe it should go to people who actually need it. Big believer of what goes around comes around and so far, my live proves just that!

  18. Anonymous says:

    4.13pm A Person- ” Grammar Queen” please dissect my post

    Anxiously waiting

  19. Anonymous says:

    So, driven by homophobia, she is basically fighting for the order in Council to implement same sex marriage. And on top of that she needs to pay…
    This is so delicious, it must be fattening.

  20. Anonymous says:

    One that that, it appears, is correct is that HE Governor Roper probably did use his reserved powers unlawfully and unconstitutionally.

    It’s unfortunate that the Civil Partnerships Act might suffer for it. If so, that would be an “unfortunate day for the rule of law” — to quote Governor Roper.

    Governor Roper should have used his reserved powers constitutional powers to silence Jon Jon during COVID press briefings.

    Jon Jon made a fool of himself and the Cayman Islands.

  21. Anonymous says:

    If you are a Christian and government (NAU) gives you money to feed your hungry children, do you have to give (tithe) 10% of that money to your church?

    • Anonymous says:

      It is tithing out of the first fruits of your labor — i.e. what you earn.

      Bible does not talk about tithing on gifts or charitable necessities for survival.

      We are, however, to be wise stewards of our assets.

      • Anonymous says:

        That’s convenient. It also explains why so many “christians” don’t tithe on money they stole, gained through cheating people, etc.

    • Anonymous says:

      NAU don’t have any money for you to be tithing. Tithe your own money.

  22. Anonymous says:

    2 sources of income and still gets government stipend? How does that work then?

  23. Anonymous says:

    So she gets a stipend while having 2 other forms of income? Excuse us!

  24. Anonymous says:

    Any update on how the East End facility is coming along?

  25. Anonymous says:

    More evidence of what all sensible people know…

    Religion makes the world dumber and meaner than it need be.

    #lame

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      You do a disservice, imo, by appointing Anglin as the leader or poster child of religion. Real religion isn’t our enemy, isn’t the enemy of equality, or at least not so much as bigoted people. I think Anglin tried to set herself up as the leader of a cause that nobody wanted to support.

      In our zeal to celebrate a victory, I don’t think we should denigrate religion, or the people who use it. After all, isn’t that the kind of judgement we didn’t want from her?

      Anyway, just food for thought. I often see in posts about gay marriage/union where people ridicule religion; I don’t think that does us any good, where we should be finding a common ground. That’s pretty much what ‘equality’ means. Cheers

    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t blame religion for stupid mean people like you. If God has not revealed himself to you there’s a good reason.
      #Pity. The anti God movement is almost as big as the kill the anti vax people movement on this little rock so your anti religion religion is big here.

  26. Deist says:

    Well done, Kattina. Continue the fight. We will not bow and can never bow – only to the Most High we will bow til death do us part 🙏🏽

  27. Anonymous says:

    This is a helpful check and balance on the exercise of power, and should be celebrated rather than derided.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Anglin need to shut up….Who cares about this anymore, we have bigger things to think about- Oh I read on Cayman Marl Road that she is receiving the Government hand out while still receiving income from other sources, if this is true she should
    be a shame of herself.

    Sad to say this is what Cayman Kind looks like

    I am a Caymanian saying this no Expat

    • Anonymous says:

      You need grammar lessons and I don’t care where you are from.

      Signed

      A Person

      • Anonymous says:

        English lessons in general, I would say.

        • Chromozones are set in stone says:

          I don’t care where you’re from either but if you’re insisting they be taught grammer i’ll insist you learn biology.

        • Anonymous says:

          People please understand this isn’t an English class, its only for one to get their points across.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, when someone says “two and two is four” and another person says “two and two are five” you have to trust the correct grammar.

        • Anonymous says:

          I learned a long time ago that knowledge and intelligence are two different things. I have known educated idiots and uneducated sages in my life.

      • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

        I had no difficulty understanding them and therefore didn’t feel the need for pedantic censuring of their prose.

      • Anonymous says:

        Grow up and get over yourself.

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