THE HAGUE – The Kingdom Council of Ministers has approved the appointment of Isabelle Severeijns as a new member of the Joint Court of Justice. On the recommendation of State Secretary for Justice and Security Rutte, she will assume office on March 1, 2026, serving as a criminal judge stationed in Sint Maarten.
Severeijns currently serves as a justice at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal and previously worked as a senior judge in the District Court of Midden-Nederland. Her extensive experience in Dutch criminal law is expected to strengthen the judicial capacity within the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
The Joint Court of Justice plays a key role within the legal systems of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the BES islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba). It handles civil, criminal and administrative cases, both in first instance and on appeal. The court is also responsible for specialized bodies dealing with civil service disputes and disciplinary matters.
The Joint Court consists of both local judges and judges seconded from the Netherlands, a structure designed to ensure continuity, expertise-sharing and uniformity in the administration of justice across the Caribbean jurisdictions of the Kingdom.