Appeal Court Quashes Professional Misconduct Finding Against Isat Buchanan

The Court of Appeal has thrown out a professional misconduct finding against attorney and Portland Eastern MP Isat Buchanan, ruling that the disciplinary process used against him was unfair.

The case arose from remarks Buchanan made in 2020 about former Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn. In a unanimous decision delivered today, the appellate judges found that the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council breached natural justice principles in how it handled the matter.

The court also concluded that the committee made an error in law. As a result, the misconduct finding and all penalties attached to it were set aside.

The judges further held that the committee wrongly relied on the sub judice rule without first giving Buchanan proper notice and a fair chance to answer that point.

The General Legal Council was ordered to cover Buchanan’s legal costs.