Chief Justice, Anthony Gates, has reminded the lawyers of the Legal Aid Commission to always be free of politics.
Speaking at the Commissions’ Annual Corporate Workshop in Natadola, Justice Gates said this is should be observed especially this year, because it is an election year.
“The Courts wish to keep politics out of Court and the same applies to the grant of legal aid for cases. Funding is for genuine cases – not for political point scoring. Yes, some cases have a political angle to them that cannot at times be unavoidable – but we try to concentrate on the well expected principals of the civil claim or the elements of the criminal charge only. Similarly politics is not for the office. You must demonstrate to the clients that you have no axe to grind, you are there to assess their applications and be part of the team that puts their case to Court.”
Justice Gates says the Legal Aid Commission is an independent body and the lawyers must treat all their clients equally despite their race, religion and gender.
