‘Harry Potter’ lawyer gets dressing down from judge
A JUDGE gave a lawyer a dressing down for looking like “something out of Harry Potter” in court.
Judge David Wynn Morgan tore into legal advocate Alan Blacker who bears a striking resemblance to Hagrid, played by Robbie Coltrane, in the Potter films.
Mr Blacker, who was wearing ceremonial St John Ambulance medals, was told by Judge Morgan: “If you want to look like something out of Harry Potter you can forget coming to this court ever again.
“I have never seen a barrister or solicitor appear before these courts wearing a medal or with badges sewn on to his gown.
“If you appear before this court again dressed as you are I shall exercise my right to decline to hear you.”
Mr Blacker’s full title is Dr The Right Honourable The Lord Harley of Counsel of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.
He was at Cardiff Crown Court defending minibus driver Andrzej Wojcicki, 45, who was jailed for five years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
After the trial, Judge Morgan questioned Mr Blacker’s right to wear the robes and wig of a barrister and asked if he was a member of the Law Society.
Mr Blacker, 42, from Rochdale,
Peerage
Greater Manchester, said he inherited an ancient Irish peerage from his father and was a fully qualified solicitor advocate allowed to wear barristers’ robes.
Afterwards Mr Blacker said: “My qualifications, status and offices were brought into disrepute. I cannot say any more for legal reasons but I am deeply upset over what I consider were baseless, unjustified comments.
“My bona fides are beyond any reproach. My medals may be for voluntary medical service but they are not some swimming badges.”
He said he wore the medals to make sure he did not appear less qualified in front of a jury compared to a barrister.