Willock says AG misled the court
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Julian Willock has accused Attorney General (AG) Dawn Smith of misleading Commercial Court judge, Justice Adrian Jack who presided over the injunction court case that Willock instigated against three Commission of Inquiry attorneys.
Since the injunction was discontinued, the court must now decide who will pay the more than $77,000 in legal fees that arose from the case. But to that, it must first be satisfied that Willock was acting as Speaker when he filed the injunction, and that the government agreed to pay the resulting legal fees.
Based on a September 16 letter bearing the Speaker’s signature and official seal, it appears as if Willock blames the Attorney General for the court’s uncertainty in the matter.
“It is my understanding that you told the court (Commercial Court Judge Ag. Adrian Jack) that in filing the injunction, which was later withdrawn, I may not have been acting in my official capacity. I find this to be troubling and misleading,” Willock said in the letter addressed to AG Smith.
“I remind you of my memorandum on August 19th 2021, March 2nd, 2021 and February 25th, 2021, where we made clear of our intentions to hire independent legal counsel in my official capacity as it relates to the Commission of Inquiry. You will also be aware of my most recent letter on August 30th (a letter that you did not have the professional courtesy to reply to) and where again I made known that I am operating in my professional capacity,” he aded.
Speaker Willock further said he trusts the AG’s chambers will no longer mislead the courts going forward.
Justice Jack is yet to deliver a judgement on payment of the outstanding legal fees.
Based on a September 16 letter bearing the Speaker’s signature and official seal, it appears as if Willock blames the Attorney General for the court’s uncertainty in the matter.
“It is my understanding that you told the court (Commercial Court Judge Ag. Adrian Jack) that in filing the injunction, which was later withdrawn, I may not have been acting in my official capacity. I find this to be troubling and misleading,” Willock said in the letter addressed to AG Smith.
“I remind you of my memorandum on August 19th 2021, March 2nd, 2021 and February 25th, 2021, where we made clear of our intentions to hire independent legal counsel in my official capacity as it relates to the Commission of Inquiry. You will also be aware of my most recent letter on August 30th (a letter that you did not have the professional courtesy to reply to) and where again I made known that I am operating in my professional capacity,” he aded.
Speaker Willock further said he trusts the AG’s chambers will no longer mislead the courts going forward.
Justice Jack is yet to deliver a judgement on payment of the outstanding legal fees.
