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Bar Will Boycott Supreme Court Opening
posted (January 10, 2020)
In other court news, the second Monday in January is reserved for the ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court - a day of proud judicial pageantry. But, this year, it will be more like the sound of one hand clapping - because the senior members of the Bar Association will boycott the ceremonial highlite of the judicial. calendar.

What's behind it? Well, plenty. First, the Bar is suing the Chief Justice because he is keeping the bar president Cheryl Vidal, from taking up her seat on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

A press release from the Bar Association says, quote "A Supreme Court judge, presiding in an unrelated matter, has called that action "stupidness" and made disparaging remarks about the Association and about… [the] President." End quote.

The second issue is what would be called an old rub: the Chief Justice's outstanding judgments. A release says, quote, "Despite the best attempts of the Association, over a period of years, the Chief Justice still has judgments outstanding for over 4 years." The Bar also plans to sue over this matter.

And, the Bar is also not happy because three spots on the Supreme Court Bench will become vacant this year, but, the bar claims, no arrangements have been made to fill those positions.

So, for all those reasons, it will be a bar boycott on Monday - the first we have seen in over two decades covering the event. And, it could significantly thin out the number of those in attendance at the event.

The Bar's press release specifies, quote, "The Executive and certain senior members of the Bar have taken the position that we will not participate in Monday's proceedings… We have not asked the general membership not to attend. Any member who is comfortable with the status quo, or who feels that attendance does not necessarily mean an endorsement of the state of affairs, can attend." End quote.

Much of the weight of these accusations fall back to the government, and, today, its chief legal officer and head of the public bar, the Attorney General responded to the criticisms:

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"I think it's unfair in the bar association release today that they claimed that we have somehow been slack in we knew this was coming up. Absolutely not. I can say with certainty that the Chief Justice tirelessly on an almost daily basis tries to recruit local senior counsel to sit on the bench and to fill gaps so that we can have the judiciary running smoothly. The bar association is talking about absenting themselves from the opening of the Supreme Court. Ask senior of the bar why they dont want to make the sacrifice serve your country and sit on the bench? But they have time and time again refused. We have sent our regional, international advertisements inviting people to express an interest becoming a judge in Belize. We sent those out from December. The deadline for all applications is January 20th. We have 2 senior attorneys in the country who have expressed an interest in becoming judges and we have currently applications from Barbados to Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom for people expressing and interest to become judges in Belize."

"The bar is a private bar, they can choose to attend or not attend if they want. That's their choice."

Reporter
"Okay, but it has to do with the current situation regarding the challenge with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission and its existing composition."

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"Well that's what they claim in their release as one of their issues, yes. So, like I said, it's their right to make that challenge and it's their right as well to not attend if they don't want to attend. The claim in court will be heard and the court will decide whether or not they were correct."

Reporter
"However, the bar president's presentation, like the AG's and the Chief Justice's, is one of the key features in the ceremonial opening."

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"Right. So then you're saying that it's key it must mean that the public thinks its key. If they are willing to give up that right then that is their choice. I would not, if I were them I wouldn't give it up but I don't control the bar. That's a bar association decision, so if they choose to not be heard that's their prerogative."

"If I were the bar president I would attend and give my speech and say my piece, thats what I would do, because then how does the public know how you stand unless you make your thoughts known, but that's a decision for her as the president of the bar and thats a decision for the bar to decide if they want to go or not."

Reporter
"It isn't a concern for you that it appears that the rift between the bar and the Chief Justice is increasing?"

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"Yes, it is a concern for me and I would be prepared to sit down with both entities and the judiciary in person of the Chief Justice and the bar to see if possibly we can come to some sort of amicable solution, so it is concerning and I would be willing to play any role that I can if they invite me to play that role."

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