Chief Justice Bryan Sykes has raised concern about the clearance rate in Circuit Courts in Western parishes.

Speaking at the Annual Assize Church Service in Montego Bay St. James yesterday, the Chief Justice said Circuit Courts in Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland have not recorded over a 100 percent clearance rate in the past two years.

This he said is below the target and leads to a backlog in cases.

He said in St. James there is a 53 percent chance of a case not commencing in the Circuit Court on the day scheduled.

He said this is also the reason, it is difficult to find witnesses for cases.

He said the issue requires further examination that will lead to changes, in an effort to prevent further backlog.