A large number of lawyers turned up at the Civil Court on Sutton Street, downtown Kingston, yesterday to defend attorney-at-law Sharon Gordon-Townsend, who was cited for contempt of court.

Gordon-Townsend was detained for more than two hours at the Central Police Station on the instructions of Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.

When she was taken to court in the afternoon, to show cause why she should not be cited for contempt of court, Pusey said she was not proceeding with the matter.

"This is an unfortunate situation which I hope will not reoccur," she said.

Beginning of dispute

Pusey explained that the dispute started when the lawyer insisted that the resident magistrate should read over certain sections of her notes. Pusey said when she told the lawyer she was being impertinent, she continued to insist that the notes should be read.

"I will not allow anyone to challenge me to read over my notes," the resident magistrate remarked. She said she told the lawyer to move on to something else, but she insisted on the notes of evidence being read.

Pusey further said when a resident magistrate tells you that you are bordering on impertinence and you insist, it is disturbing.

However, some of the lawyers said, based on the resident magistrate's explanation, the lawyer did nothing wrong and was only defending her client.

"Notes taken by RMs and judges are open for consultation and verification by counsel in any trial," said attorney-at-law Bert Samuels.

Cross-examination

He added that a lawyer cannot continue cross-examination until issues were settled from the judge's notes.

The civil case in which Gordon-Townsend was appearing was put off for another day.

Gordon-Townsend's lawyer, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, described her client as a very polite person. She told the resident magistrate that she was happy that her client did not have to show cause for contempt.

Samuels-Brown told The Gleaner the situation showed that there is an urgent need for Dictaphones and court reporters to be placed in all courtrooms in order to avoid such incidents.

Gordon-Townsend was detained for more than two hours at the Central Police Station on the instructions of Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.