She did not receive any notice or email to attend a hearing in the Court of Appeal.
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So said attorney Vonda Pile as she appeared before that court yesterday.
“Had I received such, I would have been here,” she said.
The attorney was later given the next 17 days to instruct counsel before “the court finally deals with this matter”.
Attorney Pile was before Chief Justice Leslie Haynes and Justices of Appeal Francis Belle and Margaret Reifer in the matter of the Legal Profession Act Cap 370A of the Laws of Barbados; the matter of the complaint of Anstey King against Vonda Minerva Pile and the matter of Vonda Minerva Pile, attorneyat- law. However, Pile indicated she intended to retain counsel and sought an adjournment, an application opposed by Senior Counsel Andrew Thornhill, who appeared on behalf of the Bar Association, as well as Solicitor General Anika Jackson, SC, who represented the Attorney General.
Chief Justice Haynes had informed Pile that a report, recommending the Court of Appeal make an order that her name be removed from the roll of attorneys, had been forwarded to him and he asked her if she had anything to say.
Pile indicated she had only received the “Take Notice” on Sunday and asked if there were other documents that should be served on her.
“If I am to properly instruct counsel, I am to have every single document, not just a ‘Take Notice’,” she said.
She acknowledged she had received the report of the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Association.
Chief Justice Haynes, who referred to Section 21 of the Legal Profession Act,
said the court did not need any document other than the report of the Disciplinary Committee.
“We have that report a number of months now and the question is whether the court should confirm the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee,” Chief Justice Haynes said.
Senior Counsel Thornhill, who appeared with immediate past president of the Bar Association Rosalind Smith-Miller, current president Kaye Williams and attorney Keshawn Wood, “pressed” the court to proceed with the matter.
“Ms Pile, having received the report around February, this year, had more than enough time to instruct counsel,” he said.
Solicitor General Jackson agreed, saying Pile had “sufficient time to do exactly what she is now asking to do”.
Attorney Rita Evans said since Pile had said she was only notified of the proceedings on Sunday and needed time, “that is not an extra-ordinary position”.
Chief Justice Haynes later told Pile the court was in receipt of an affidavit of service from Sunday.
“We are of the view that was sufficient time to brief counsel and have counsel here this morning [yesterday]. That having been said, we are prepared to adjourn the matter until June 16. You have 17 days which this court considers is sufficient time to brief counsel and come prepared to deal with this matter.” (HLE)
