Today in the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda. Justice Renee Williams denied a request by the representative of the AG, Joy Dublin, to have the submissions by the claimant, Washington Bramble thrown out for late submission. The Judge asked Bramble to explain why no application for extension to file was made. Bramble then asked the Judge to allow her to make an application orally, which the judge allowed.

The representative to the AG who is the defendant, objected to Bramble’s oral submission and indicated that she wished to have the application by Bramble presented in writing. The Judge, in the end ruled that the submission of the claimant, Bramble would be accepted as being properly filed and submitted. However, Justice Williams ordered that Bramble pay $500 in costs for being late.

The judge explained to the court that it would only be equitable for him to find the CLAIMANT costs, since he ordered the Attorney General to pay costs in the amount of $3, 000, after the defendant, the AG, took almost over 20 months to file a response to the claim filed by Bramble.

The Defendant, the Attorney General has been ordered to respond to Bramble’s Submissions by April 13. Bramble is then required to respond by May 14. The matter is set for trial in July 2026.

Bramble is suing the government to have section 4 (1b) and (3) of the electronic crimes act repealed. The law states that it is a crime to use offensive language over the internet. In submissions, bramble calls the law, “a vague , bogus law which violates free speech as well as several other constitutional rights and has no place on the law books of any civilised democratic society”.