WESTERN BUREAU:
RETIRED JUDGE, Marcus Jackson, has again donned the robes of a practising attorney-at-law.
Widely known for his hard-nosed approach when dealing with offenders before him, Mr. Jackson resumed his legal practice over the last few months in St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover.
He retired from the bench in December, having served the judicial system for 25 years, most recently as Hanover's Senior Resident Magistrate. During his career, he also did stints in Westmoreland, St. James and overseas in the Turks and Caicos Island.
Three months after retirement, he was called on to marshall the evidence in the highly publicised Montego Bay Street People Commission of Enquiry which lasted two months.
On Tuesday, at the Lucea Resident Magistrate's Court the place where he dispensed justice for a number of years Mr. Jackson, who was making his first appearance on the other side of the bench since resuming practice, mingled with police personnel and other attorneys, seemingly at ease in his new role.
When the matter in which he appeared was called up, the sprightly Mr. Jackson stood and introduced himself to the new RM, William Campbell.
"I am Marcus Jackson and I'm appearing for the defendant," he said which triggered an outburst of laughter.
The traffic matter he appeared in was withdrawn because the parties were able to reach a settlement.
For most persons attending court, it was a rare occurrence to see the former judge in his new role as attorney, something he appears, at least for the moment, to have a lot of zest for.
