In addressing the church in Colossae, the apostle Paul admonished the brethren in Colossians 4:5-6 (Amplified version) “Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].”

This text is quite appropriate and applicable to address the recent ruling of the General Legal Council (GLC), which handed down a two-year suspension to attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan who pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for disparaging comments made about Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn and Justice Minister Delroy Chuck.

Since the suspension became public, there has been mixed reactions concerning the two-year period during which he would not be able to practise as an attorney. Many people, including veteran lawyers, believe the ruling is excessive, while others believe it is justified. His legal representative, King’s Counsel Valerie Neita-Robertson, has indicated that they plan to appeal the ruling.

In order not to waste the GLC panel’s time, Buchanan admitted his wrongdoing but cited that his distasteful and crude remarks were due to him being on medication on the day he appeared on the online programme, which, according to him, catered to an uneducated demographic. He claimed he had to use profanity to get his message across to these people.

There is freedom of speech, but this situation proves once again that it comes with a certain degree of responsibility. I wonder if our politicians have any similar code that guides their discourse. Sometimes they pass some nasty and degrading remarks at each other.

Given that I am no legal luminary, I do not understand the intricacies of the canons that govern the legal profession. However, it is certain that Buchanan understands the code of ethics to which he is bound. In fact, we must not forget that this is the second time in a span of months that he has been brought before the GLC for comments made regarding the DPP. Prior to this he lambasted the Office of the DPP for what he thought was the unfavourable manner in which it treated his client’s, Vybz Kartel, case.

Outside of the legal sphere, Buchanan is also known for making inappropriate comments. In July 2022 he was cancelled by both local social media users and CVM TV for comments he made in which he described Jamaicans as ugly.

For someone who has been shown grace by the justice system, given his prior convictions, Buchanan should be more measured in how he addresses people and issues, especially publicly.

Given the length of his suspension, many people have expressed scepticism as Buchanan gives legal representation for different high-profile cases, including a case against Senator Kamina Johnson Smith concerning her failed bid for Commonwealth Secretary General.

Some hold the view that “government badness” is at play with regard to his suspension. But isn’t the GLC an independent body governed by its own standards? This perspective, therefore, brings into question the trust deficit that Jamaicans have with the judiciary. They do not trust politicians nor do they trust the justice system. Will they then have confidence in the Caribbean Court of Justice being Jamaica’s final court in the new republic?

Oneil Madden is interim chair/head of Department of Humanities and lecturer in language(s) and linguistics at Northern Caribbean University. He is also a PhD candidate in applied linguistics at Clermont Auvergne University, France. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or maddenoniel@yahoo.com.