CJ Upset that Attorney Was a ‘No Show’ in Court

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Chief Justice Michael Kruse was not happy to learn that the attorney of record for a case that was heard in High Court today, that of defendant John Tuupo, was a no show in court.

The attorney Mark Ude has left the territory for good.

When asked if he knew the whereabouts of his attorney Tuupo said he believed that Ude is off-island.

Appearing upset, Chief Justice Kruse asked for names of members of the Bar Association’s Disciplinary Committee.

The committee is responsible for examining alleged misconduct of Bar Association members.

Kruse then appointed Public Defender Douglas Fiaui, who was present in court, to represent Tuupo.

The defendant told the court that he was a security guard at a Department of Education facility working for a private security firm supervised by a nephew of a police officer by the name of Maui’a.

He said he ended up in court today because the company didn’t pay him for two months.

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