The Court of Appeal has granted attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan a stay of his two-year suspension from practising law, allowing him to continue his legal activities pending the outcome of his appeal against the disciplinary action imposed by the General Legal Council’s Disciplinary Committee.
This suspension, deemed excessive by the Court, was initially handed down earlier this month following Buchanan’s guilty plea to professional misconduct charges. These charges stemmed from offensive comments he made against Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, quoting lyrics from Vybz Kartel’s song ‘Menace’ during a YouTube program he co-hosted.
The stay not only permits Buchanan to resume his legal practice but also positions him to represent Vybz Kartel in the latter’s appeal against a murder conviction at the United Kingdom Privy Council. The suspension, issued by the General Legal Council, was a response to Buchanan’s violations of ethics rules governing attorneys authorized to practice in Jamaica and breaches of the Canons of Professional Ethics Rules of the legal profession.
Represented by attorney-at-law John Clarke under the instruction of King’s Counsel Valerie Neita Robertson, Buchanan’s case management conference is scheduled for July next year, with a subsequent hearing date to be determined.
