The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion in Attorney General John Jeremie concerning his battle with former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Geoffrey Henderson.Lawyers attending the special session of the association in Port of Spain voted 106-82 in favour of the motion. The confidence vote was one of three that passed.
By a vote of 121-67, the lawyers condemned in the strongest manner, the reported attempts by Jeremie to improperly and illegally interfere with criminal prosecutions for political purposes. And, by a vote of 127-59, they condemned in the strongest manner, the reported attempts by Jeremie to undermine and threaten the constitutional independence in the office of DPP.
The votes were by secret ballot, a departure from the tradition of a show of hands.
In announcing the results Law Association president Martin Daly told reporters, "We have nothing to say beyond what our members have said in this motion."
He added, “I don’t think that the Law Association is going to say anything, other than what was done today. I would be surprised if the Council would say anything more on this matter at this stage.”
Daly said some members raised contentious matters, which were subsequently withdrawn. He said he asked that those matters remain confidential but at least three senior lawyers spoke with reporters outside the courthouse.
Dana Seetahal told reporters she did not think the association had enough evidence to justify the motion, in particular the one which made mention of political interference.
She was concerned that the lawyers acted on "reported" infractions by Jeremie. “You can’t have a motion which talks about reported attempts, you can’t condemn reported attempts, you either condemn attempts, or nothing. That motion did not fit well, but I understand the intention of the motion,” Seetahal said.
She said she did not think a no-confidence motion was necessary. Israel Khan also spoke out. He has been a strong defender of Jeremie, calling him the best attorney general the country has ever had.
He described what happened at the meeting as "a storm in a tea cup.” He expressed disappointment in the young lawyers who largely supported the motion while the senior lawyers defended the Attorney General.
He reiterated his support for Jeremie saying the persons who should be afraid of the attorney general "are those involved in crimes and corruption, especially white-collar crimes."
He too felt uncomfortable about the resolution, which he said was based on hearsay evidence that a newspaper published.
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Khan said the Jeremie never directed the DPP on laying charges. “He said the Government had expended a lot of money and why you are not charging these people? What are you doing? The DPP said he was going to charge when he is ready to charge, and that was the end of that. We have a strong DPP and a strong AG.”
Desmond Allum said he does not expect the no-confidence vote to have any effect. “That was too much to expect from this attorney general,” he said.
Allum said despite the no confidence motion there would be no boycott of the criminal courts because that was never part of the agenda.
The former attorney general said the last time the Law Association passed a resolution of no confidence was against then Russell Martineau.
Martineau resigned but then Prime Minister George Chambers refused to accept it. Martineau was at the meeting but had no comment on what transpired.
Jeremie has not commented on the vote but he has already said that he would ignore the law association's decision.
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