There was drama in the High Court on Friday when a matter involving Jacqueline Theodore and her daughter, Farah Jackie Theodore, was stuck off by Justice Errol Thomas.
Attorney for Farah, Henry Shillingford threw a chair in court and stormed out when Thomas ruled that the matter be struck out.
In September Jacqueline was sent to jail for ten days for contempt of court after she reportedly failed to pay over monies to her daughter in a land dispute matter.
The case was set for Friday and that is when the drama began.
First Shillingford was late for court but he eventually turned up and the matter got underway.
Shillingford first made his presentation to the court followed by attorney for Jacqueline, Lennox Lawrence but things got heated and at one time both attorneys were on their feet arguing.
This prompted Justice Thomas to warn the two that if they didn’t stop misbehaving, they would be cited for contempt of court.
Farah was then called to take the stand but she was nowhere to be found.
Lawrence then asked the court to strike the matter off, pointing out that no excuses were given for Farah’s absence, since she was present earlier in the proceedings.
A brief argument broke between Lawrence and Shillingford but Thomas soon intervened.
He told Shillingford that he was late for court and had given no apology. Furthermore, the judge pointed out, no reasons had been given for Farah’s absence.
Shillingford responded saying that he will “take the blame” for Farah’s absence.
Thomas dismissed that explanation as “no excuse” and said he was striking off the matter.
He then asked the bailiff to adjourn court.
It was then Shillingford grabbed his bag, threw a chair and stormed out even before the court was adjourned by the bailiff.
henry shillingford said on the Matt Peltier show, after the fIrst sentencing of Jacqueline Theodore that the local judges are suspicious. It’s that contempt of court??????? Errol Thomas should bring him before the court to tell the nation and the caribbean what he means…. because based on their actions in court the entire caribbean must stress or put pressure to get an explanation why henry shillingford cannot be held for contempt of court. WE DEMAND TO KNOW!!!!!!! ………Because this suspicions about the local judges seem to be facts that threatens the society.
My my my. Each and very comment reflects how truly foolish and ignorant this society is. Completely MISSING THE POINT! God forbid that either of you become beneficiaries tomorrow or you die with or without a will and have some crooked attorney and a foolish executor steal your estate or beneficial interest and neither you nor your loved ones get what is truly theirs.
Mr Shillingford has every reason to be angry in the face of the ignorance, envy, wickedness and unadulterated greed permeating every level of our society and wider Caribbean.
Take time to learn something new and educate yourselves! Foolish people! Simpletons!
Dominica is a dysfuntional society so this is just a reflection to all. A new way of thinking is required and across the board and fast else Dominica will not Rise again anytime soon.
Iwhen shillingford. Can not get a weed to smoke. befor coming to court he mad u know that
avoca ka vini fou pou largen` . some thing in this case where a particular lawyer is concern appears unethical.
My dear God please help our country. I’m about to say something please don’t take my head off, Dominicans you need to go back and smoke your little marijuana, I remember growing up in my village i never experienced the level of anger we experiencing today. Let me tell you what I remember growing in my beautiful Dominica, after school we go and buy our mastif by ma Georgie, or ma Bright, cheese, salami sausage by ma Hubert, and our belly-full juice by ma Zenna, and take two pull, and after that we were showing our white teeth. Yes, it was one love. No lawyers fighting in court, no guns and knives, No Minster taking advantage of our young students, our country was beautiful, yes bring back the milk and honey days… yes, we had our entertainment, our drunks, God blessed their souls, uncle Joe, Spank, Marco Jordan, and a host of others…..
This is so ironic! Henry is the leading advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana possession.
Yes I agree one love while showing our white teeth
Senjo of course.
The man in his anger try to bite his own elbow, he did that well after the adjournment and the people that matters disappeared. Had the court been in progress it would have been a different matter, sit down,,stand up, and hush up or one month in the slammer. Well done he knows when to strike.
hahah i doe want to laugh na.. see how dominica come boy.. dem lawyers not easy
The dog & pony show.
BAR Barbarism!
i am disappointed in you my brother i respect you but you are a disappointment a big one
Shame on both Lawyers for misbehaving like pre schoolers no good example and lack of respect to Country
The judicial system is a mess. Beyond that we have this late disease..that leads to multiple adjournments.. because of unprofessional or unethical conduct by lawyers but they are not the only ones.. Indiscipline and disorder is very widespread in Dominican society even among the leadership in the private and public sectors.politicians etc..Are there any penalties for such dysfunctional conduct??..Apparently not.
Shillingford should be held in contempt of court for his behavior.
OLD!!!!
Both of them actually. Both exhibited behaviour not becoming of a member of the bar and puting the kegal profession in disrepute.
Mr.Henry Shillingford .That was lack of professionalism. The Court should have you locked up for in contempt of court .this matter should been taken to the bar association. Throwing a chair ?what kind of conduct is that. I would never have you to represent as my attorney. You shown a lack of responsibility.
whoosh! Where Judge Judy?
Very unfortunate circumstances. I firmly believe that the judge erred in not holding the two very unruly attorneys in contempt of court – they are not junior lawyers. They are senior lawyers who have shown absolutely no noble example by this particular action. It seems that discipline is at a low in the Dominican judiciary. If an ordinary guy from the “street” had thrown a chair in court or argued in an uncharacteristically violent, aggressive or condescending manner, that individual would have been held in contempt.
This court episode is so pathetic and puerile by absolutely ALL the parties involved.
Mr. Caddettet, what exactly did each of the lawyers did that warranted both of them being found in contempt of court.
What is your reason to paint a broad brush on both of them. How many of them threw a chair in the court and to what extent did both of them argued uncharacteristically. Do you expect a judje to hold every one in contempt without first warning them and to what extent did each of them cross the line. Can’t you decide who was the aggresor. Why both why not one?
I do not anticipate that the lawyer who threw the chair was arguing with an “ANT” in the corner of the room. If that was indeed the case, then probably he needs psychological evaluation.
He was arguing with another lawyer and as such the judge intervened and warn them.
According to the article: “but things got heated and at one time both attorneys were on their feet arguing. This prompted Justice Thomas to warn the two that if they didn’t stop misbehaving, they would be cited for contempt of court”.
The two Characters in question persisted: Again, according to the article: “A brief argument broke between Lawrence and Shillingford but Thomas soon intervened.
On the premise that the article is bona fide, balanced, accurate, with no malice and without reproach, then isn’t it clear that both were caught up in the “children melee”.
If the article is totally inaccurate and I doubt it is – subject to DNO’s clarification (DNO defend your reputation) then…
Yeah, U are right, the judge erred. That’s a result of their pseudo elite club.
This is interesting. The attorney and his client appear not to be serious people.
Shillingford was late. He gave no excuse and did not apologize, the case should be adjourned, if not quashed.
Farah did not appear in court. She has projected she is not interested. The case should be quashed.
Shillingford should be imprisoned for contempt of court for a longer period than ten days. Imagine, an attorney acting in this manner. This man has no respect, not for the judge, the court and others who were present. Some attorney, eh.
When he threw the chair, he should have been arrested.
I am reading between the lines. They are after Jackueline’s husband’s money. They do not care how they get it and will go to the extremity of getting it. They do not deserve it and should be given none. Judge use your intelligence.
emmmmh but in the Daniel Lugay case the lawyer involve is not only late nuh he just does not appear and without excuse an or explanation yet still the court does not strike out the case but rather postpones it to suit the lawyer and the state……………… and there ar many more instances .emmmmmh interesting
Only in Dominica you say?
They need to get serious. Those lawyers should be reprimanded and suspended from practicing in the Court, the latter for a while so that they could hopefully learn a lesson.
All concerned need to clean up their act. How can they operate in that manner? They are defending clients. They need to be taught discipline and perfect attendance. I hope the situation changes soon.
How does someone like Shillingford still manage to retain a license to practice law with that behavior?
How you expect things to be better in a country where lawyers misbehave in the courtroom?
Shame on yo you Mr shilingford as an Antony you should have done better than that, I think they should put a ban on you for 6 month
If you are asking for a ban it should be on both lawyers, since both of them behaved in an unprofessional manner, Mr Lawrance is to be blamed as well, wrong is wrong and both lawyers are wrong, both were disrespectful, do not shoulder all the blame on Mr Shillingford, and to your FACTS in the country where you are residing, both lawyers would be disciplined
I am not against that at all. They must act professional in Court. This is expected of them in especially whatever country they reside in. They should know better. All should control their temper especially at such a time, before the Court.
Wow!
Not surprise at all! The state of our Country is in disrepair, from every fabric of our society. look at our Leaders. Always fighting with each other.
What poor example; what poor behavior; what disrespect for the court. Shame; Shame; shame!
Henry Shillingford (don’t deserve to be called Mr.) should be sent to jail for contempt of court.
Honestly Henry, you no doing your client any favour. You may be right but this is not helping at all. If you can not control yourself in court it may be best they strike you off. Sorry brother that is how I’m seeing it.
I am sorry but there is no way i could charge my mother for anything. Anything i do or give to my mother will be for freeeeee. My mother brought me into this word, carried me for 9 months no charge, feed me clothed me, took care of me, gave me a home to live in, sent me to school and no charge, all for free> I would never sell my mom a piece of land, much less take her to court, everything i do for my mom should be and is free of charge.
I am sorry but there is no way i could charge my mother for anything. Anything i do or give to my mother will be for freeeeee. My mother brought me into this word, craried me for 9 months no charge, feed me clothed me, took care of me, gave me a home to live in, sent me to school and no charge, all for free> I would never sell my mom a piece of land, much less take her to court, everything i do for my mom should be and is free of charge.
Is this country spiralling to decadence. If the legal system is rotting what else can we expect?
what is going on with our justice system, did anyone taken to jail for the week end?
Look roro
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eh be look it.
Stay tuned much more to come. Everthing is upside Down, Every thing is inside out!!!# smfh”.