Legal aid lawyers being satisfactorily paid, says Chuck

By Lorraine Mendez   

 

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck is asserting that legal aid lawyers are being satisfactorily compensated and have been paid on time.

 

Noting that lawyers have in the past complained about low compensation for legal aid work, Minister Chuck said legal aid rates have been doubled over the last two years. 

 

"I don't think there are many lawyers complaining now about legal aid rates. In fact, interestingly, we have been begging lawyers to send in their certificates so we can pay out. I can tell you, this year in January and February, we had money remaining in the legal aid budget and we had to be writing and telling lawyers, if you have certificates, send it out," the minister asserted. 

 

He said lawyers who particpated in the recently concluded One Don Gang trial also agreed on a rate and have been paid. 

 

Mr. Chuck was outlining a submission from Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on the Criminal Justice Bill in which the JFJ recommended an improvement of legal aid rates as well as the provision of funds to the Legal Aid Council for appeals to the UK based Privy Council. 

 

"That's a matter for consideration, but at the moment, what is afforded could not take matters to the Privy Council because if we paid $270,000 say for a murder trial, or the same rate to go to the Court of Appeal, it's going to be about five or 10 times that amount to go to the Privy Council. So I can't see that approval at the moment, but it is something for consideration," he acknowledged.     

 

The Joint Select Committee on the Criminal Justice Bill is considering amendments to legislation that will impose stricter penalties for murder.