High Court in Suva judge Justice Salesi Temo said he was “getting sick” of defence counsels not having practising certificates.
Justice Temo made these comments after he was informed by the State that the private lawyer handling the case of a man accused of unlawful cultivation of 17.5 kilograms of marijuana did not have a practising certificate and that was the reason for her non-appearance in court last week.
Justice Temo said discipline was important for those in the profession.
He said a lot of lawyers did not realise this and it ruined their careers.
He also told the court that he had jailed people for not having a practising certificate and people who pretended to act as solicitors and lawyers before the courts.
He advised the 30-year-old Waisake Vatunivua that it was his responsibility to secure a lawyer who could work for him in his case.
Mr Vatunivua is charged with one count of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs.
His bail was extended and the matter adjourned to August 21.
