Defence Counsel in Court

• Author: Nadine C. Atkinson-Flowers
• Profession: Attorney-at-Law
• Pages: 219-220

Summary

Advice is offered throughout this book on the duties of the defence counsel. However, this chapter touches

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Terms _____________________

Amicus

Defence Attorney in Court

Fiats

Watching Proceedings

Habeas Corpus Applications

_______________________________

Amicus

As a duty to the Court, it is not unusual for any defence counsel present to rise and indicate that s/he is

appearing amicus. A defence counsel appears amicus when acting as a friend of the Court, and in that

capacity, will either take instructions from an accused or seek to explain a particular point to an accused.

The defence counsel may sometimes offer to appear amicus at sentencings, where an accused pleads guilty

and the like.

Defence Attorney in Court

Where there is more than one defence attorney present in court, the seniority rule operates. The most

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according to their number of years at the bar. Of course, a Parish Court Judge may deal with matters on the

court list in whatever order s/he desires, regardless of defence counsel seniority.

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indicated to the Court. The Clerk of the Courts does not hold for the defence counsel, but if s/he has made a

particular indication through some communication channel, the Court needs to be aware of it so that it can

make a proper determination about a matter.

Defence Counsel in Court

Chapter 24