(Jamaica Observer) President of the Court of Appeal Justice Seymour Panton has criticised lawyers who discuss their cases in the media while they are in progress in the court.
“Cut it out!” Justice Panton told an audience of mainly lawyers and judges attending Wednesday’s launch of two books dealing with criminal issues inside the Aubrey Fraser Lecture Theatre at the Norman Law School at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.
“I should say to the lawyers present and not present, it is a very dangerous thing to be going on the radio and television and commenting on cases in which they are involved, while the cases are in progress,” Justice Panton said.
“Lawyers who are doing this should pause and consider this: Can’t you see that there are persons with special interests who are fuelling the asking of these questions, with a view to prejudicing the outcome of the cases?” he asked.
“So, I urge you to shun these publicity stunts because that is what they are aimed at; to sell the (news) papers and to sell audiences for television,” he added.
The Appeals Court president also had a comment for lawyers in Parliament, as he welcomed the presence of Attorney General Patrick Atkinson.
“He has joined the band of lawyers who go to the place where, by and large, they just talk and talk about justice, and promise and promise a lot for the courts. But alas… they end up doing precious little for the courts or justice,” Panton declared.
“They pay lip service, and I say so unbridled, and there can be no successful challenging of that,” he added.
“One set will propose something today for the good, and the other set destroys it soon after. That is what they have been doing,” Justice Panton said.
The function was chaired by Cayman-based Justice Margaret Ramsay Hale, daughter of the late Ian Ramsay, QC.
The books launched were Understanding the Criminal Mind, written by Jamaican Adam McIntyre, who is programme co-ordinator for the Department of Community Rehabilitation in the Cayman Islands, and Born to Defend by veteran attorney-at-law and former Public Defender Howard Hamilton.
