Johannesburg - A lawyer put it in black and white to Mpumalanga High Court Judge President Francis Legodi that he should order himself to pay penal costs because his judgment was “a mere joy ride on an ego trip” and “irritational” (sic).
For this conduct that Judge Legodi deemed unbecoming of a court officer, Mpumalanga-based attorney Lufuno Ramarumo has become the latest lawyer to be referred to the Legal Practice Council (LPC) by a judge for disciplinary action.
In a scathing judgment last week, Judge Legodi referred Ramarumo to the council, along with advocate A Zwane, who appeared for her on the application that was intended to appeal an earlier order.
Zwane will have to answer for his role in the scribbling of the words Judge Legodi found disparaging and defamatory.
Ramarumo had sought to appeal the judge’s order that directed her to pay legal costs after not showing up in court twice for a matter she took up.
Her appeal application sought to convince Judge Legodi that he erred because she was merely a correspondent attorney in the matter, or in Zwane’s words just a “post box”.
In her appeal papers, Ramarumo wrote: “Since the judgment is issued by the learned judge, properly looked at, was a mere joy ride on an ego trip by the learned judge, he must personally pay the costs of this application and costs of appeal (sic).”
“The applicant cannot be expected to pay out of pocket in challenging this irritational judgment (sic)”.
These words “simply went beyond the code of conduct” of the legal profession, Judge Legodi said.
Noting the appeal papers were filed in May 2020, the judge said Ramarumo and Zwane “had ample time to reflect properly on the inappropriateness of what is articulated” and “cool down and … withdraw”.
“… Both knew that they were on a course to disparage, defame or otherwise to insult the presiding judge who granted a cost order against Ms Ramarumo,” he said.
The LPC should have a copy of the judgment to consider whether action should be taken against the two or any one of them, Judge Legodi ruled.
He lamented increasing cases of lawyers hurling insults at judges.
“It has now of late become fashionable for legal practitioners to take off their velvet gloves and unashamedly attack judicial officers … when they are not happy with the judgments.”
Two lawyers found themselves in hot water with the LPC last year for insulting judges.
Rembuluwani Gadabeni told Limpopo division acting Deputy Judge President Frans Kgomo he was stupid and nonsensical during proceedings.
“Darren Sampson hurled 16 F-bombs at a Joburg high court judge. “F**k you, judge, and all the other judges,” he yelled.
The Star