Courtroom showdown: Attorney claims he was ‘singled out’ for not being ‘from here’
Marlon Gordon, a Jamaican attorney who came close to being charged for contempt of court on Tuesday, is questioning whether he was being targeted because of his nationality.
Gordon is one of the defence counsels in the matter involving David Straker, Donald George, Anderson Flax, and Lindon Chiverton — the quartet allegedly caught at sea with 80 kilograms of cocaine more than three years ago.
“I wanted to make sure that I am not being singled out because I am not from the BVI,” Gordon told the court.
His statement came after several in-court incidences which eventually led to the trial being pushed to May 15.
Notably, when the trial started at 10:30 am on Tuesday, Gordon came to court without files pertinent to the case. This caused the court to break for 15 minutes to allow him to return to his hotel to retrieve the said documents.
Lip balm incident
During today’s trial, Gordon was observed pounding on the desk around which he was seated. He was also observed speaking in what could be described as an elevated tone of voice while a C
And while Senior Magistrate Richards addressed him in court, the attorney was observed at that moment applying lip balm and shuffling a pile of papers scattered on the desk.
Magistrate Richard appeared not to be amused and described the attorney’s body language as improper.
“It is not proper decorum … the court operates on rules,” she told him.
Attorney Gordon then responded: “I apologise for my chapped lips.” He added that he has practised in various jurisdictions where applying lip balm was never an issue.
Objection to what?
Gordon again had an outburst in court when the Crown’s prosecutor rose to make an objection to his line of cross-examination.
“Objection to what?” he asked.
A seemingly upset Senior Magistrate then told the attorney: “Your behaviour falls way below the bar.”
She claimed he was being disrespectful to the Crown’s prosecutor; to which Gordon replied: “But he disrespected me. It is a non-point!”
This is not how we practice here
The Senior Magistrate then called on the attorney to conduct himself better, stating, “that is not how we practice here”.
Following repeated warnings, police were prompted to intervene and asked the attorney to refrain from speaking over the magistrate.
“I cannot continue because I have to be able to compose myself. I am on edge, I am sorry,” the senior magistrate then said.
She further requested that the trial, which was scheduled to continue this week, to be pushed to a later date.
“I ask that all be on their best behaviour because if this happens, I will be taking my leave,” she warned.
She then urged all members at the Bar to refresh themselves with the court’s code of conduct before they return.
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If it was a male magistrate he would not be behaving like that. and in Jamaica court he would have been thrown off the case
If it was the local lawyers T—a would quick to ridicule them in open court as she has done in the past, now she have this out of place Jamaican lawyer, who feel that he is in Jamaica and she on d bench playing moo moo.
Stop talk bulls%$t if you don’t know what you talk
If what is reported here is true of the attorney then he should be reported to the bar council for disciplinary action. None of the behaviours which are reported are acceptable at the BVI Bar and in the BVI Courts. When in Rome… and please…to say he is not from here…that behaviour if true is more than disruptive and if true, the magistrate might be well in her rights if she had found contempt of court…
If he keeps it up…Tortola is too small of an island…maybe his work permit might not be renewed like what they have done before. Let he stop there! Please, this is not Jamaica. BVI should not allow any disrespect of our Judicial Officers and the administration of justice in the Territory.
So how comes a lawyer comes to court without his client’s file and there’s a time and place for everything
I believe he was buying time for his client. Otherwise, why would he leave the hotel without his files. I am sure he is in the BVI for no other reason than to appear in court on behalf of his client.
He acting like he know her on a personal level. Like, which attorney in their right mind behaves like that? Something a gwaan.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/58559/lawyer-charged
But what I dont understand didn’t labor department or the Bar association did an investigation on this man who appear to have m****l problems and a checkerd past.
He behaved very scary yesterday if what is reported is true.
How on earth does somebody like that get through immigration? He has to prove he has no criminal record as a condition of getting a work permit. That article indicates he faced *multiple* charges for assaults on women.
Someone at immigration needs to answer some questions as to how that slipped through…
Oops!
It doesn’t look like the same person
The attorney is Barbadian. He is not from Jamaica
The attorney practices in Barbados and is Jamaican.
Read the article again
Interesting.
He sure has a problem!
This attorney is currently on $10,000.00 bail in Barbados…
https://www.google.vg/amp/s/barbadostoday.bb/2018/07/24/lawyer-on-10000-bail/amp/
Doesn’t look like the same person. You sure?
The question that I humbly ask is,
Soooo..where did he go to law school again?
…Those of you with insight, please assist with answer..
Thanks, Ausar..
Dumbfounded,as per outbursts..
Sigh:(((((
Yes if it was a local attorney he would have been dealt with long time. But because he not practicing here did she buckle? Which tells me that she only rough up the local lawyers because they fall under her jurisdiction? Very interesting I must say. I was very amused. Adjourning the case to may is just as s******l and threatening to take leave??! A local attorney would have been charged with contempt of court. I have witnessed it myself.
She too p***y. How could I have a rule book a mile long and I am the most m*******e person expecting everyone to be squeaky clean in my presence? Hmmm
Well tomorrow is the start of the big show down between El Marko and Willfrock.hope he is not representing because he will make the news tomorrow again with this behavior.
Cheeky a******t t*it
Well sah; what kind of behaviour is this if true. Sound like Kangaroo court.
He is not Barbadian he is jamaican. He practices in in Barbados
I’m waiting patiently for the BVI Bar Association to make a statement on this or revoke his opportunity to practice in the BVI. From here or from TimBukTu this type of behaviour is ridiculous and disrespectful to his profession.
I don’t often agree with that Magistrate but I have to say that she was more than correct in her objection to his behaviour.
Patiently waiting for the Territory’s “legal scholars” and QCs to tell this schoolboy that that behaviour is not acceptable in this or any Caribbean Court.
Unfortunately the BVI Bar Association doesn’t control who is permitted to come to the BVI and practice law – that is controlled solely by immigration.
But certainly if the reports are accurate, they indicate conduct which would be considered by most lawyers to be unbecoming anywhere – let alone in court.
I thought he had to he admitted in bvi in order to practice in bvi and if this is the case, there are sufficient grounds for him to be disbarred from BVI. Waiting to see the next headline.
BVI News the man is a bajan. Keep Jamaica out you mouth. Mine dem sue you.
Just google him. He has been charged several times by Barbadian police. Latest one here: https://barbadostoday.bb/2018/07/24/lawyer-on-10000-bail/
He does not need balm for his lips; he needs detol for his whole mouth!
He needs to conduct himself like a professional. His court room tactics are lacking in proper decorum and is disrespectful in all regards on all fronts. He’s full of shiggidy.
WHO IS WITHOUT SIN THROW THE FIRST STONE… MOST OF YOU HYPOCRITES WHO IN JACKET AND TIE WHEN YOU ALL GOING TO STOP PROFIT FROM DRUGS AND AM NOT TALKING CANNIBIS AM NOT SAYING WHAT THE LAWYER DID WAS 100 RITE BUT HYPOCRITES IN THIS UNGODLY PLACE STILL A JUDGE PEOPLE READ ROMANS 1 TO 16!!!!!! UNGODLY PEOPLE ONLY WORSHIP VANITY SOME OF HYPOCRITES BEHAVE LIKE THIS IS NEXT TO HEAVEN PLZ REFER TO THE ONE INDIVIDUAL NUFF A U DONT NO ONE TING ABOUT JAMAICAN SOCIETY WE ARE A PROUD PEOPLE WITH OUR OWN UNIQUE CULTURE WHICH HYPOCRITES LIKE TO STEAL ….. WE HAVE COME AS COUNTRY!!!!!! UK DON’T HAVE TO TELL US WHAT TO DO… STOP BEEN SO HIGH MINDED WE ARE HUB OF THE CARIBBEAN FOR A REASON SO TALK ABOUT THE LAWYER NOT JAMAICA BECAUSE NUFF A U HYPOCRITES DONT NO ONE TING ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS BADMIND NOT GOING TO STOP IS WHAT REALLY OU CULTURE,OUR MUSIC THE FACT WE CAN COOK,THE FACT THAT WE DONT EAT OUR FOOD OUT OF A CANCER CAUSING BOX EVERYDAY,WE ARE HARDWORKING AND DONT STAND FOR FOOLISHNESS….DONT HATE TO MUCH BITTERNESS JAMAICA HAS IT PROBLEMS BUT ONE TING DOE JAMAICANS BY FAR IS NOT UNGODLY LIKE SOME OF YOU HYPOCRITES
What is his point again? The majority of lawyers that practice in the BVI are not from here.
Goggle him, pure trouble . Don’t need to have him here in our country
The Lawyer (Liar) is only evoking malice amongst the people as a means of prolonging the case. Maybe he has received his retainer fees as yet. I don’t understand why the Magistrate would condone such behavior from a lawyer, when she would held the defendant or plaintiff in contempt…People are paying attention you know…not all of Us sleeping.
You should look up the law on holding an attorney in contempt and you would realize that it’s not like you see on the television …
Guys whoever hired this man just look at his past. Please find another lawyer and get rid of this man with obvious —— issues. Having him cannot possibly help your case, he belongs in a —— i*********n or a jail himself.
You better thank God you was single out. That kind of conduct for a big grow man, shows and speak a lot about you and where you came from. We in The BVI don’t accept you childish behavior or mentality.
I am a Jamaican and I do not condone this type of behaviour.
This man is an embarrassment to all the hard working decent Jamaican lawyers here in the BVI.
probably the h**h g***e went to his head: some folks comes to this territory and can be very disrespectful elsewhere they can not exhibit such level of disrespect: I am 50% convinced he would not have attempted such conduct in JA or in any other jurisdiction…God Saved the Queen
So many experts about everything in the BVI smh
His clients should fire him and hire a c——-t attorney. Would a competent attorney come to court without his files? HELL NO!
Madea would do a better job!