Pereira stresses role of attorney in dispensing justice

The Chief Justice made her presentation from Grenada
The Chief Justice made her presentation from Grenada

Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Dame Janice Pereira, has urged members of the legal profession to assist in making the mandates of the court to provide quality service a reality.

Pereira, who made a 60 minute-teleconference presentation on the occasion of the opening of the new Law Year on Thursday from Grenada, said while the court remains committed to fulfilling its mandate to providing quality service and an efficient justice system, “it is greatly dependent on the efforts of the legal profession to make this a reality.”

“This brings me back to the role and responsibility of the legal profession in safeguarding and promoting the rule of law by ensuring a fair and efficient justice system,” she said.

The Chief Justice of pointed out to her earlier exhortations about the lawyer’s responsibility and duty to the court, clients and colleagues and the profession adding that in the execution of these duties, the responsibilities overlap, however, one common thread woven in each is the duty to show respect.

“Unfortunately one of the disturbing issues which currently plague the profession, is the lack of respect displayed by some and I emphasize some attorneys at law,” Pereira bemoaned.

According to her, a lawyer must exude and encourage respect for the courts, judges, clients and colleagues and “disrespect is very broad and extends to a number of areas of the profession.”

She said this extends to how one presents themselves in all forms and pointed out that over time mannerisms and expressions have crept into the profession which, she said, do not complement it.

Some of those include, she said, the lack of adequate preparation for matters before the court by some lawyers notwithstanding advance notice of hearings, being punctual, having a practicing certificate, treating litigants and other attorneys with fairness and courtesy, among others.

“Such conduct weakens rather than promotes the fair administration of justice and does much to destroy public confidence in the judiciary as an institution,” she stated.

She encouraged attorneys to demonstrate respect for the courts and judges and stressed that a respectful attitude is key.

Before the Chief Justice’s presentation, members of the legal profession attended a special service at the Trinity Baptist Church in Roseau. This was followed by an inspection of a guard of honor on the Bay Front.

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6 Comments

  1. Titiwi
    September 18, 2015

    I concur with Chief Justice Pereira. Some of our legal fraternity are rude, uncouth, ill-mannered and arrogant. Dominica is like the Wild West of the Caribbean that is bestowing ill repute on our legal practitioners. It seems the only Bar we have is the one holding up the elbows of those lifting their glasses. Our standards have regressed and not progressed.
    We have an AG, whom we do not even know to be a qualified lawyer. Shame on us.

    • Barbara Saunders
      September 21, 2015

      I have always maintained that wrong is wrong no matter who does it and at what level. I have also maintained that what we do at our level of influence is a good indicator of our likely behaviour if we move to a higher office.

      Politicians who are corrupt or do wrong must be condemned! Problem is, perhaps half the people who shout and scream and go into hate frenzies about supposed corruption and wrong doing have absolutely no moral authority to do so because they are doing probably much worse at their levels of influence.

      Therefore, churches must clean up the act of their members before they can condemn politicians and others; non-governmental organisations must do the same; Union leaders and executive members must do the same; Business entities must do the same; employees must do the same; families must do the same! Media practioners also!

      Guess what we have at the end of this – a beautiful country of honourable, trustworthy government and patriotic citizens!

  2. Really
    September 18, 2015

    Call the names of those practicing illegally without their certificates.I am sure we know all of them!

  3. Tj
    September 17, 2015

    Maybe the Dominican lawyers can pay Attention and respect their clients

  4. Sylvester Cadette
    September 17, 2015

    I think the Chief Justice ought to have said explicitly that some lawyers are blatantly breaking the law rather than sugar-coating. She stated:
    “In most of our member states, the Legal Professional Act which governs many aspects of the legal profession mandates that an attorney at law must possess a practicing certificate. However there are an increasing number of attorneys who commit a great disservice to the profession, the client and the court by sneaking their way before the court knowing fully well that they are in contravention of this requirement,” the Chief Justice indicated.”
    This is not just a disservice, or mere sneaking, as indeed they are, as stated, “in contravention of this requirement,” – meaning in contravention of the law. Simply put, some of the officers of the court who must be the primary upholders of the law are blatantly breaking or acting ultra vires to the Legal Professions Act. In my mind that is, in and of itself, a clear example of breaking the law. In…

    • Sylvester Cadette
      September 17, 2015

      In addition, to do so blatantly and contemptuously in the face of the court is reason for a sanction of “Contempt of Court” after a the first warning. The Bar association should self-regulate before it reaches that stage I would think. Since lawyers cannot or ought not at all to be ignorant of the law, then one warning may suffice before a “Contempt of Court” sanction is preferred.

      I draw a legal mind to comment and/or elaborate and further enlighten on procedural law associated with such matters as per fundamental justice.

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