<p>There is no doubt a shortage of magistrates and just on the brink of that situation, a magistrate was suspended from duty for one month effective this past Tuesday. While shortage would raise eyebrows, as far as we know the suspension of a magistrate is big news and we could not find another similar case in our records. The directive to suspend, we are told, was circulated in a memorandum to all magistrates recently. Now, the said magistrate, Hurl Hamilton, was removed from his official duties for alleged irregularity in the discharge of his functions. There is a known incident that occurred two years ago when he was sitting in the Belmopan court. It involves the case of a woman with whom he was having a relationship and he was instructed to recuse himself, but he refused to do so. The female took her husband to court for maintenance and reduction and variation of access to their child. The court later found out that in the absence of any of the parties involved, the magistrate took the case and gave varied orders. When the matter was brought to the attention of the court, intervention was made. After numerous complaints the Judicial and Legal Services Commission recommended his suspension. On Tuesday, that recommendation was effected. While the magistrate has been suspended for one month, a well known attorney will also not be practicing for one year. On Wednesday, the General Legal Council recommended to suspend Attorney Marcel Cardona because of a claim made against him by a client, whose son he was representing. That client claims that she gave Cardona is excess of twenty-seven thousand dollars to pay off a magistrate to secure bail for her son. But after checks, the woman claim that Cardona did not use the money and refused to return the money.</p>
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