Lawyers warned not to waste time

 A JUDGE has warned lawyers to come prepared for their cases so that they do not waste the court’s time.

Justice Bernard  Sakora sounded the warning yesterday in the National Court in Waigani after two lawyers failed to properly prepare themselves for a trial which he was forced to adjourn to next month.

Two cases filed against the State by Jerry Baniyamai and Dickson Opa were adjourned because the defence lawyers failed to prepare themselves for the trial.

Sakora said the continuing problem of lawyers attending court without proper preparation and lacking information breached court procedures. 

He warned lawyers to always prepare themselves when a trial date was given, be fair and to act in the best interest of citizens.

Justice Sakora advised lawyers to avoid taking shortcuts on procedures in court.

Sakora urged lawyers to uphold the terms of their oaths to help enforce the laws of the country.

He said they must not be told what to do by those in authorities but “take the initiative to do things ourselves”.

“We must try to avoid being in a nannies state as this virus has landed on the shores of PNG,” he said.