Lawyers lock horns in court over constant adjournments

A lawyer expressed his ire that his client is languishing in prison “at the convenience of a counsel.”

Tally Jackson and Xavier Corke appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John, on July 7, 2023, where they were charged in connection with the shooting death of Michael Miller of Stubbs.

Since then, the matter has been adjourned about 15 times. When the matter was taken back before the court on January 7, 2025, another adjournment date was being set, and lawyer, Israel Bruce, who represents Corke in the matter indicated to the court that he will be out of state for some time for another matter.

However, Grant Connell, who represents Jackson, informed the court of his intention to apply for bail as Jackson has been in jail all this time.

“My client cannot stay in prison at the convenience of another counsel,” Connell argued, adding that Bruce needs to have a little more respect for the court.

Connell said that Bruce can send a junior to court while he is out of state.

However, Bruce rebutted that if a counsel cannot understand that High Court matters take precedence above all else, then he cannot be helped, and that when people spew nonsense, then others are made to listen.

Bruce told the court that he does not have a junior, and even if he did, it is not for him to pitch that junior in on a murder case.

Connell injected that some lawyers tend to have a superiority complex, and added that no lawyer should be requesting adjournment after adjournment.

Upon agreement with both lawyers, the senior magistrate then adjourned the matter to the following day, Wednesday, January 8.

However, Bruce subsequently sent a letter of absence to the court stating that he had mistakenly agreed to the adjournment not realising that he had matters in other courts on that day.

“I too had a matter in Biabou, but because of the nature of this matter, I wrote to request an adjournment,” Connell argued.

He added that no court should be held to ransom by anyone. Connell also noted that Bruce had the sitting of Parliament the following day, January, 9, but argued that “what goes on in Parliament can wait.”

Connell said another adjournment means that Jackson goes back to jail.

“We as lawyers have to humble ourselves,” Connell remarked.

The lawyer asked for a “very short” adjournment.

Senior magistrate John said he understands that Parliament will proceed until the following week (this week). He, therefore, adjourned the matter to January 14, 2025.