AG fails to respond to letter on remarks to High Court Judge; Case set for Monday

Attorney General Basil Williams is still to submit a response to the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary regarding remarks made to High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder over a month ago.

According to the Office of the Chancellor (ag), the letter submitted by Justice Holder detailing what transpired in the courtroom on March 23, 2017, was also forwarded to Minister Williams for “his information, guidance and any response.” However, it added that “to date, Mr. Williams has not directly responded to the letter.”

The incident which occurred on March 23, 2017, was widely debated in the media.

According to Justice Holder, in his letter to the Chancellor, the AG was “insulting, disrespectful, and calculated to scandalise and lower the authority of the Court in the face of the Court,” in his behaviour which occurred in the matter of the Application by Carvil Duncan, during the cross-examination of a witness.

This led to the Judge rising from his bench and returning to his Chamber without adjourning the matter.

As such, Justice Holder said he is not prepared to sit to hear Mr Williams as an Attorney-at-Law in any matter whatsoever, unless he makes a genuine and meaningful apology “to my satisfaction, in open Court, both to me and to the Members of the Bar, since they too were scandalized by his despicable conduct.”

Later asked by the media whether he intends to apologise, the AG said, “I don’t know about apology.” Additionally, reports stated that the Attorney General has since recommended that the Judge recuse himself from the matter so that the Government can get a fair hearing.

However, the Chancellor’s statement notes that “the case has been set for continuation on the 8^th of May at 09:30 am before Justice Holder. Notices have been sent to the parties.”