THREAT TO BOYCOTT LAWYERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1937, Page 10

THREAT TO BOYCOTT LAWYERS

RESOLUTION BY PRACTITIONERS.

JOHANNESBURG, December 1

The recent threat by Vereeniging farmers to boycott certain attorneys because they had agreed to defend natives involved in riots which led to the death of two European policemen, has had repercussions. At a meeting of members of the Johannesburg Bar a resolution was passed viewing “with grave concern the. attempts which have recently been made to deter legal practitioners from undertaking' the defence of persons' who have been charged with serious offences.” ,

“Every accused person who is brought before the courts has the right to iho services of an attorney or counsel in the presentation of his defence. It is the duty of every attorney and of every advocate to whom the privilege of practising in the courts of law is afforded, to undertake the defence of an accused person who requires his, services without, fear and without regal'd to race or colour. “Any action which is designed to interfere with the performance of thisi duty is an interference with the course of justice. ' “The Johannesburg Bar expresses ’

its approval of the action of those attorneys who have refused to be deflected from the path of duty and who have upheld the honour of their profession.’’