The Gazette 1995

M E D I

W

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GAZETTE

MARCH 1995

Revision of Circuit Court Venues

Many provincial papers carried articles criticising the proposed closure of the particular courthouse in their area. It was reported in various provincial papers at the end of January that the Minister for Justice, Nora Owen has stated that the review of the Circuit Courts was not finalised. The Minister pointed out that the committee was still in the process of formulating its proposals. The Minister said "I have not seen the draft proposals being formulated by the committee. I am, however, looking forward to receiving the report. My Government is committed to ensuring that the courts system is organised in such a way as to give the best possible service to the public." The Irish Independent printed an article on 1 February headed 'Circuit Courts closure stirs up protest'. The Law Society's response to the Working Review Group was issued on 15 February and a press release was issued 16 February 1995 to the Cork Examiner , provincial papers and local radio stations. The Cork Examiner covered the Law Society's response under the heading: 'Law Society Criticises Review Plan'. The article stated: "The Law Society are calling for the appointment of a sufficient number of judges to deal with the volume of work and suitable facilities in the existing venues to enable the judiciary and the legal profession to carry out the work efficiently." The Law Society's response was also covered in a number of provincial papers. Front page headline on Sunday Independent on 15 January stated 'It's no handicap being a proven lawyer'. The article reported the result of a survey carried out by the Independent. The results revealed that lawyers are held in higher regard than journalists. Lawyers have their day!

The proposed closure of 18 Circuit Court venues featured strongly in the media during January (particularly in the provincial newspapers). The report which recommended these closures was drawn up by a Committee of five circuit court judges and five public officials under the chairmanship of the President of the Circuit Court, Mr. Justice Spain. An article by Carol Coulter on the proposed closures was featured in the Irish Times on 14 January 1994. The article commenced on the front page with the headline 'Report Proposes the Closure of 18 Circuit Court Venues' and continued inside the newspaper. She stated: "This proposal is unlikely to find favour with either of the two organisations representing the legal profession. Although neither has yet prepared its responses to the document, spokesmen for both have expressed their misgivings." Paddy Glynn was quoted extensively in the article. He stated that: "the public is more likely to be inconvenienced than anyone else." He pointed out that joining certain counties together did not make sense. "Just because Clare is near Galway and Meath next to Westmeath does not mean that this is an ideal marriage" said Paddy Glynn. The article also referred to the fact that the condition of some circuit court venues had been the subject of concern and led to several civil legal actions over the years brought by local bar associations against the Minister for Justice. The article continued, "The Law Society whose members are more directly affected has not yet drawn up its policy on the issue, because according to Mr. Glynn, it was not consulted at the outset, and is now asking its members about the proposals. They are likely to oppose at least some

The survey from a sample of 200 respondents evenly distributed between city and country asked people to say who they considered most trustworthy: lawyer, politician or journalist. A whopping 60.5 per cent said they would place lawyers at the top of the list. Only 33.5 per cent chose journalists and a mere 6% chose politicians! The parchment ceremony on 20 January at which 52 newly-qualified solicitors received their parchments was covered in the Irish Independent on Saturday 21 January. The headline stated 'Law Chief raps 5,500 - solicitor roll'. Paddy Glynn was reported as saying "there are too many solicitors in this country . . . too many for all to make a living." The article also stated "strongly defending the profession Mr. Glynn said the 1,200 complaints against solicitors dealt with last year 'has to be related to 5m legal transactions' The article also reported that "Mr. Glynn told the Irish Independent it was wrong that solicitors The parchment ceremony was also covered in the Irish Press on 21 January. The report covered the content of the address made by Paddy Glynn at the ceremony. It stated "Mr. Glynn urged the newly qualified solicitors to communicate with their clients, to keep them informed of the progress of a case and in particular to explain any delay". "He also advised them to keep abreast of legal developments and to endeavour to establish and maintain up-to-date practice management systems." Parchment Ceremony who represent 80 per cent of the country's lawyers, were still only allowed sit as judges in the district court."

'Family Law: a mystery to most'

A full page of the Irish Times was devoted to the problems encountered in the area of family law on 24 January. The main article by Carol

°f the closures and criticise the proposed reorganisation of the circuits."

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