Champagnie, Taylor, Manning join QC club

Noted defence attorney Peter Champagnie is among three lawyers who have been appointed as Queen’s Counsel.

Also appointed were Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Taylor and civil attorney M. Maurice Manning.

The appointment was made by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on the recommendation of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“I am very honoured and humbled, and I am also very happy for my two other colleagues that were also given their instrument of appointment.

“I regard this appointment as an added responsibility to not only lead by example for my younger colleagues but for other members of the Bar,” Champagnie said.

Good character

The appointment of Queen’s Counsel is made to attorneys who have served at the Bar for at least 10 years and displayed good character, as well as advocacy.

To be appointed, members of the legal profession make an application to the chief justice, who refers them to various legal bodies for comments and recommendations. If successful, the chief justice does a final review.

The legal bodies include the General Legal Council, Queen’s Counsel Committee, Jamaican Bar Association, Cornwall Bar Association, and The Advocates Association of Jamaica.

Recommendations for appointment are then sent to the prime minister, who sends them to the governor general, who makes the appointments.