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image copyrightLaurie lewis
A black lawyer has said that court staff mistook her for a defendant three times in one day.
series of tweets, Alexandra Wilson, 25, of Essex, said a security officer, an attorney and a court clerk had not acknowledged that she was in the legal profession.
She said the experience had left her “absolutely drained.”
Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) apologizes for the “totally unacceptable behavior”.
Criminal and family attorney Ms. Wilson said a security officer asked her name when she arrived in court Wednesday.
Then he looked him up on a list of defendants.
“I explained to him that I was a lawyer. She apologized and walked me through security,” Wilson said.
After meeting with his client, he attempted to enter the courtroom to discuss the case with the prosecutor.
But she said another attorney told her she “had to wait outside” and that the court would call her on her case.
“I explained to her that I’m a lawyer. She looked embarrassed and said ‘oh, I see,'” Wilson said.
image copyrightAlexandra wilsonUpon entering the room, Ms. Wilson said that the employee challenged her “very loudly” to leave and asked if she had a lawyer.
Ms. Wilson wrote: “I, AGAIN, explained that I am a defense attorney trying to speak to the prosecutor.
“She looked at me, said ‘oh that’s okay’ and continued what she was doing.”
In addition, he said, a member of the public thought he was a journalist and told him that “only lawyers can enter” the courtroom.
Ms. Wilson, who has since filed a formal complaint, said, “This is really not right … I don’t expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work.”
Responding to his tweets, HMCTS Acting Chief Executive Kevin Sadler said: “I am so sorry for your experience in court yesterday; it is totally unacceptable behavior.
He said he would be investigating the role of his staff and contractors “as a matter of urgency.”
“This is not the behavior that anyone should expect and it certainly does not reflect our values,” he added.
Ms. Wilson said she was “grateful” for the apology and hoped it would “lead to real change.”
“I felt humiliated and at the end I was almost crying to be honest,” she said.
“There is no question that more training is needed for judicial staff and legal professionals.”
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