Fighting cases on airwaves unethical – Chief Justice tells lawyers

The Chief Justice (CJ), Mrs Georgina T. Wood, on Friday deplored the spate at which some lawyers fight their cases on airwaves, saying it was a violation of their professional ethics.

She, therefore, entreated lawyers to fight their cases with sound legal arguments in the court room.

According to the Chief Justice, equally troubling was the vitriolic attacks on judges, arising from disagreement from their decisions.

Mrs Wood made the observation at the enrollment of 38 lawyers, including 11 females, at a ceremony in Accra.

The CJ noted that: “many have expressed disappointment at the increasing lack of civility among professional colleagues which unfortunately, sometimes shows in the lack of respect between the bench and the bar.”

Mrs Wood said the conduct had serious implications for the legal system, nationally and internationally, and tasked the new lawyers to adhere to the ethics and code of conduct of their profession.

She said: “I would like to encourage you to learn from your seniors and each other. The Law School has only given you a broad hint of what exist in real life. The lawyers’ life is a world of hard work; of serious study and legal research.

“I also urge you to learn to cultivate the virtues of true humility, gentleness, decency, respect to all professional colleagues particularly you seniors and the office of the judge”.

Mrs Wood observed that with the contemporary fast paced world characterised by new and evolving technologies, the different methods and approaches to legal service delivery had made the career more challenging.

She urged lawyers to take legal education seriously so they could effectively play their role in national development.

The CJ announced the  construction of an ultra modern Ghana Law School Village on a five acre land at the University of Ghana, Legon, and said the project would be completed in four years at an estimated cost of $40 million.

Source: GNA