Don’t bend laws, judge says

 By LAZARUS BIRA

LAWYERS must conduct themselves ethically by not bending the laws, National and Supreme Court judge Nicholas Kirriwom says.

Kirriwom issued this challenge to new lawyers admitted into the bar last Friday.

“Remember that you are lawyers. Do not become mouth pieces of your clients and bend the laws.”

Kirriwom said that would save lawyers’ integrity and attract more clients to them, though it may also cause them to lose clients and money.   

“Read and apply the laws,” Kirriwom said.“Do not mislead the courts. “Be advisers to your clients and not the opposite.”

Kirriwom said this country would see more money spent on high profile cases with many cases going in and out of the courts by lawyers twisting the laws and not interpreting them correctly.

He said the lawyers had duties to the clients, police and the utmost obligation to the state.

He said lawyers must not go “judge shopping”. It was unethical for lawyers to file cases and bring them to their favourite judge to give decisions in their favour. He said judges in doing their constitutional duties should control them to uphold the laws.

“I am sure you have learnt enough in ethics,” Kirriwom told the lawyers. Make it your business to abide by the rule of law.” Kirriwom said law was the noblest profession because it had strict rules that governed it.

He said there was a list of lawyers dealt with by the authorities for being unethical and undisciplined, some of them had been debarred. 

“Do not be one of them,” Kirriwom said.