Get a lawyer

Get a lawyer if you’re in real strife, is the advice of a Darwin magistrate. “It never ceases to amaze me how many people come to court unrepresented on serious charges,” Magistrate John Lowndes said yesterday. He was about to hear a guilty plea to charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which carries some heavy penalties. “There are a lot of lawyers out there,” he said. The magistrate is right about that. Our court reporter’s list of lawyers who regularly defend clients in so-called criminal matters in Darwin alone (not counting those employed by the legal aid services) numbered 79 at last count.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 09 June 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283