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Lawyer thrown out of court

- allegedly disrespected senior magistrate & court officer
Attorney at Law Mr Leroy Jones was thrown out of the Magistrate's Court yesterday March 16, 2015 by Senior Magistrate Ms Tamia Richards. Photo: Linkedin
It was less than two weeks that Senior Magistrate Ms Tamia Richards had cause to express concerns about criminal lawyers' 'disrespectful' behaviour in her court. Photo: GIS/File
It was less than two weeks that Senior Magistrate Ms Tamia Richards had cause to express concerns about criminal lawyers' 'disrespectful' behaviour in her court. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – A lawyer was asked to “excuse” himself from the courtroom yesterday, March 16, 2015 after his behaviour was considered disrespectful to Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards.

Attorney-At-Law Leroy Jones had earlier exchanged words with a court officer before he was chided by the magistrate and subsequently asked to leave the courtroom as he was seen to have been disrespecting her orders and the court.

Jones appeared in court yesterday to represent Cordel A. E. O’Neal who was sentenced to 7 years, 10 months in prison. That case was over with and O’Neal was already returned to the holding cell at the Magistrate’s Court when the lawyer and a female police officer, whose name was given as Officer Williams, exchanged words.

As another matter was being heard, Jones proceeded to remove himself from the lawyers’ table and took up a seat in the open court area. Shortly after, Officer Williams approached the lawyer and ordered him to sit properly. A verbal exchange then ensued, which resulted in the Senior Magistrate interjecting by informing Jones that he needed to conduct himself in a proper manner and that the police officer was in the right to order him to do “the right thing”.

At this time Jones stood and began repeatedly interrupting the Senior Magistrate as she repeatedly ordered him to sit properly or leave her courtroom, “There is no but,” she told him repeatedly as he attempted to make a point.

Jones insisted on being heard and noted that he felt the female police officer did not speak to him in a proper manner. He had initially told the officer that it was not up to her to object to the manner in which he was sitting as he told her to “let the magistrate tell me that”.

“She cannot speak to me like that,” he insisted as again the Senior Magistrate told him to sit properly or leave the court but he appeared intent on engaging in an argument with the Senior Magistrate who then ordered him out of the courtroom. “Mr Jones, please excuse yourself from my court,” she requested.

It was only on March 10, 2015 that another lawyer, who was objecting to the manner in which another member at the bar had posed a question to a witness, was rebuked by the Senior Magistrate.

“Yall getting rude in 2015,” Senior Magistrate Richards had said loudly.

14 Responses to “Lawyer thrown out of court”

  • Stopit!! (17/03/2015, 09:11) Like (42) Dislike (13) Reply

    A lawyer told me the rules of natural justice includes the right to be heard. What did Tamia now do, violate the lawyer's fundamental rights to be heard under the rules of natural justice? Too much complaints about this Magistrate. The position maybe gone to her head. They always advocating give the locals a chance, but when they get the chance, they overstepping their bounds. It's not this same Magistrate that allegedly changed the liquor license application that should have been changed by the Legislators? Write to the DG on she misson!!

  • Yes (17/03/2015, 09:30) Like (11) Dislike (9) Reply
    No regulated body controls the island trained lawyer that is the problem. The UK trained barrister knows that they can be disciplined anywhere on the planet and so conduct themselves with class, whereas MANY not all island trained ones and solicitors try to try a thing. This is not about knowledge and capacity it is about conduct and even appearance.
    • Ha! (17/03/2015, 14:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      He was trained in the UK
      • Yes (17/03/2015, 15:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Child please do your homework. Google is a good place to start. He did his basics at BPP an then went down to UWI for his practice certificate. Had it been the other way around he would have received info to prevent what happened today as requirement of the course.
        To help you to understand my dear whatson, a teacher gets a degree in English, he gets the real and crucial lessons on how to conduct a classroom when training for the teachers certificate.
        • @LOL (17/03/2015, 16:50) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
          You should also do some homework. UWI does not offer a practice certificate, the Council of Legal Education is responsible for that.
  • weed (17/03/2015, 09:34) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need change in the court
  • SKB (17/03/2015, 10:05) Like (13) Dislike (9) Reply
    I think it is personal because mr Jones is very down to earth.
  • Struppps (17/03/2015, 10:10) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply

    throw him out on he a.. he too r*de and love to ta.... People business fire bun why he don't go Nevis go mind gossip let them deal with him he will be in a permanent slouching position.

  • 7th dis (17/03/2015, 10:14) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    is that the tammy they say will take over from dr. done deal...I think NOT!!!
  • LETME SLEEP (17/03/2015, 11:15) Like (8) Dislike (12) Reply
    NEVERMIND THE TALK TAMIA. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER COLOR YOU WOULD NOT HEAT IT. IF YOU WERE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY THE TALK WOULD NOT HAPPEN. IF YOU WERE A MALE. THE CHATTER WOULD NOT START. DO YOUR JOB!
  • Lawyer (17/03/2015, 13:57) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply

    What the hell he mean the officer cannot tell him to sit properly in the court. The officer is the orderly at the court and that means he or she is responsible for keeping order and when the officer speaks he/she speaks on the authority of the Magistrate. Jones get yourself in line please. You way too out of order

    • Voice of Reason (03/05/2020, 08:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The magistrate could have asked him to approach the bench and quietly resolved the problem.
  • tell it (17/03/2015, 15:04) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    @let me sleep, YOU Are correct.
  • time will tell (18/03/2015, 09:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    If she were a man, they would say she is stern or strict or means business in her court room. However, because she is a woman they want to suggest is a b...... for doing her job without fear or favour..WOW!!!


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