Judge scolds lawyer

A SAN FERNANDO High Court judge yesterday criticised defence attorneys for their unreadiness to proceed with cases, resulting in the judicial system being blamed for the slow administration of justice.

Madame Justice Alice Yorke Soo Hon’s remark came after a jury panel was chosen to begin the trial of Bevan Neptune and Cleophus Nicholson, but their attorney Ian Gray sought an adjournment. “When there are hundreds of people waiting on matters to be heard in the court, the blame doesn’t fall on attorneys, it is always on the court,” Justice Soo Hon scolded. Gray explained that he wrote a letter to the Director of Public Prosecution’s office for disclosure of documents pertaining to his clients’ case since January 22 and followed-up his request with a telephone call to the DPP’s office.

State attorney Althea Alexis said she was unaware of the request, but handed over documents to the attorney yesterday morning. The judge questioned the frequency of the attorney’s follow-up action in requesting the documents while knowing the trial date had been set. “I feel aggrieved when I have come from so far in the rain to work and even moreso for the jurors who may have come from even further, having put aside their personal matters and work to come here and deal with this. But the blame falls on this (judicial) side. Hardly anyone blames attorneys for not doing their work. The blame always falls on the court’s shoulders,” Justice Soo Hon said. Justice Yorke Soo Hon gave the attorney until today to put his house in order and apologised to the jurors for the delay in commencing the trial.