By Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterATTORNEY-AT-LAW Carol Lena Winston Churchill who was struck off the roll of attorneys-at-law eligible to practise in Jamaica, has taken the matter to the Court of Appeal.
She was disbarred on April 27 this year after the General Legal Council found that she breached the canons of the Legal Profession Act, because of her convictions in England for forgery and theft. She pleaded guilty to the charges in October 1999 and February 2000, and was jailed for 15 months.
She was disbarred last year from practising in England and Wales because of the convictions.
Attorney-at-law Dr. Lloyd Barnett, a member of the General Legal Council, is the respondent in the appeal. Dr. Barnett had brought the complaint before the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council.
The Disciplinary Committee held that she had acted contrary to the laws of England and had been convicted of criminal offences, which were of a nature likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. The committee said also that having looked at the evidence and being mindful of the required standard of proof, "we are of the opinion that the attorney has been convicted of very serious offences both of which involve an element of dishonesty".
In the grounds of appeal filed this month, she is contending that she was not properly served and is entitled to be heard according to the rules of natural justice. She further contends that there was confusion in the documentation as to the precise charges laid against her and yet no clarification was sought before the decision was made to disbar her.
She is asking the court to set aside the order and restrain the General Legal Council from taking any further action against her until her appeal has been heard.
