CJ controversy

PROMINENT attorney Israel Khan SC has come out in strong defence of Attorney General John Jeremie’s recent address to the nation on the controversy surrounding Chief Justice (CJ) Sat Sharma.

Khan in an interview with Newsday also called on his colleagues to “come out in their numbers” at today’s meeting of the Law Association to objectively discuss the matter.

Khan said he heard “through the grapevine” that the association had scheduled a meeting to discuss a vote of no-confidence against AG Jeremie with the intention of placing him before the court for contempt.

Khan said Jeremie demonstrated fairness and fearlessness in carrying out his duties, citing the charges laid against Jamaat Al Muslimeen leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr and former PNM Ministers’ Franklyn Khan and Eric Williams, as examples.

The attorney said the legal fraternity should be proud to have an AG who defends the democracy and independence of the judiciary and rule of law. “It is the ordinary right of the Attorney General to criticise in good faith in the public administration of justice,” Khan said.

Meanwhile, legal practitioners at the criminal bar have expressed concern that they are being shortchanged by the failure of the Executive of the Criminal Bar Association to issue a statement regarding the CJ controversy.

Attorney Osbourne Charles SC yesterday said he and several other legal practitioners have condemned the “conspicuous absence and silence” by the association.

The attorney said he and several other practitioners were of the opinion that their interest in the association were not being served and he assumed, by this time, the association’s Executive would have issued a statement regarding the matter or met in an emergency session to discuss it. He said there were concerns among the legal professional circuit over the contentious matter and all the orders made by the court, which have in one way or another, impacted upon the criminal jurisprudence as well as other areas of law.