September 28, 2026

Defence attorneys withdraw services, protest continues tomorrow

President of Advocates Association of Jamaica, Tamika Harris says several of her members stayed away from all criminal courts, including the gun courts, today.

The withdrawal of services follows last Thursday’s silent protest staged by attorneys in support of amendments to the controversial Firearms Act.

Ms. Harris admits that some attorneys had to attend to matters in the criminal courts where witnesses had to travel far distances for matters.

In the meantime, several Government members have hinted that the Firearms Act may not be revised at this time.

In response, Ms. Harris is calling for the Government to listen carefully to the amendments to the Act being called for by attorneys.

She stresses that the attorneys are not calling for the Act to be weakened, but to avoid a child or music producer being criminalized for having imitation firearms.

Meanwhile, president of the Northern Jamaica Law Society, Perline Bailey says defence attorneys from her group withdrew their services from criminal courts today.

The group is made up of attorneys across St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, Ms. Bailey explains that tomorrow’s action will target gun courts only.

Ms. Bailey says the gun law requires significant amendments, especially as it relates to reinstating the judge’s discretion to evaluate each case on its own merit.

She says other amendments should ensure children and their parents are not criminalized.

In the meantime, Ms. Bailey explains that persons who pose no threat to society are being criminalized under the Act, and this should not continue.