Dr of Dundee - 6. D of D Ch 6

Just as I was preparing for surgery the next morning, Melanie knocked on my open door. “Doctor, you have a visitor,” she said to me, and she stepped back and Jessica appeared at the door, she smiled as she walked in, closing the door behind her, before sitting down.

“Hello Jessica, is this a business call?” I asked, “Yes and no, I came to give you a short brief on what is happening with the court case with that development company. I also managed to get Friday off, so I came straight here, so I can have an extra day of relaxation,” Jessica said to me.

After ten minutes of briefing me on what to expect with the approaching appeals court case, Jessica stood. “Anyway, you have work too attend to so I will leave you for now. Oh, before I go, I heard on the grapevine that the community has its own courtroom?” Jessica said to me, and I smiled and chuckled.

“Bloody grapevine, I thought only a few knew about it, come and I will show you what Tim has done,” I replied, as I too stood up and exited the room and headed to the end of the passageway, where I opened the door, and stepped to one side, so Jessica could see.

“Wow, Tim has done a great job, just what is needed for a court to operate, although he has forgotten two things,” Jessica said to me, as she walked over to the other side of the room. I looked at the room for a moment, and that is when I realised what she meant.

“A witness stand,” I commented, “Correct, plus you need a clerks desk, below your desk, to deal with recording the court hearings and to deal with all of the paperwork,” Jessica added, “Yes, how silly of me, I guess I am still trying to get used to my new role as a JP,” I commented.

“I suggest that maybe you spend a bit of time in the city, attending some of the different levels of court cases, so you can be familiar with how things operate,” Jessica suggested, as we exited the room and headed to the reception area.

“Good ideal… Melanie, what is my diary like for next week, as I need to spend two days in Darwin,” I asked my receptionist, as we arrived at the counter. Melanie looked at the diary to check for me and smiled, “There is just half a day Wednesday and all of Thursday free at the moment,” she said to me.

“Good mark that off as me being away, and make all day Friday and Saturday morning as surgery days,” I replied, “I will let you know early next week, what cases would be best for you to sit in and observe, and I will probably bump into you there,” Jessica said to me before giving a short wave and headed out the door.

Later that day as another day was coming to a close, I sent a text message to Tim, asking him to call in and see me either at the surgery or at home. Five minutes later Tim entered the surgery while I was chatting to my staff.

“You summoned me Your Worship,” Tim said smiling, and I groaned, “Please, that is enough of that, I asked you here, so I could personally ask you to mind Toby for two days, as I have to go to Darwin for Law business,” I said to Tim.

“Sure, that is not a problem at all, you know I can help out, when ever I am free,” Tim replied smiling, “Good, I will be leaving before lunch next Wednesday and I should be back Thursday night,” I stated to Tim, who smiled and nodded his head.

On Monday morning, as I sat down in my office in the surgery, I opened up my emails, and saw an email from Jessica waiting for me, which I clicked on. “Hello James, here are some hearings that I think would be beneficial for you, hopefully we will see you there, maybe you would like to have dinner with me on Wednesday night, regards Jessica.”

Below the note was a list of court hearings that Jessica suggested that I attend, and I was a little surprised at the variety. Wed @ 1300 - Youth Justice Court (Closed Court), Wed @ 1400 - Local Court (Civil). Wed @ 1500 - Local Court (Criminal). Thurs @ 0900 - NTCAT. Thurs @ 1000 - Work Health Court. Thurs @ 1100 – Youth Justice Court (Closed Court), Thurs @ 1300 - Supreme Court, Court Room 4.

I was a bit surprised by the last item, as I knew that it was well above my qualifications, but no doubt Jessica had a reason for me to attend that court room. At the end of the work day on Tuesday, Melanie informed me that she had shuffled a few appointments, so that I can get away at 11 am tomorrow to get to Darwin for the court hearings, which I was glad of.

Racing home after my final appointment on Wednesday, I had a quick shower and a dressed in a business suit, leaving my jacket and tie off until I arrive in Darwin, and with the airconditioner set on high I headed towards Darwin, nervous on how the rest of today and tomorrow go.

Before entering the local court, I paused and took a deep breath, before straightening my tie and walking in, in my briefcase, I had a writing pad to take notes, and in my wallet I had my brand new JP identification card, and a dozen new printed business cards, Dr James Shaw, FRACRRM, MBBS, JP.

After passing through security, I looked at the list that Jessica had sent to me, before going to the courts directory to see where to go. When I arrived on the floor of the Youth Justice court, I was stopped as I exited the lift, “Do you have business here sir?” the security guard asked me.

“It is ok Frank, he is with me, I have arranged permission to attend this court session,” I heard a male voice say, and after a bit of looking I at the smiling face of Mr Trevenan, the NT Attorney General, and I gave a short nod of the head, as I retrieved my Law ID, and showed it to the security guard.

“Very well sir, you may continue,” the guard said and I walked to where I saw Mr Trevenan, but he had since disappeared. As the first hearing was announced to be heard, I followed a small group of people inside, and as required, I stopped inside and bowed my head, before taking a seat at the back of the court room.

When the Magistrate entered we all stood and bowed before taking a seat and the prosecutor stood to start proceedings, and the Magistrate put his hand up to stop him. “One moment there… you at the back please stand and inform me your reasons for attending this court,” the Magistrates said as he looked straight in my direction, so I stood.

“Your honour, my name is Dr James Shaw, JP. I was given special permission from the Attorney General to attend a number of court cases of various types, as part of my education on how things operate within the legal system,” I responded, as I fished out my Legal ID and a business card, along with a copy of the email from Jessica, which the court clerk came and retrieved, and passed them to the Magistrate.

“I am sorry Dr Shaw, but I do not approve, so please leave,” the Magistrate said before handing back to the clerk, what I had presented, who returned the items to me, and I stepped out onto the aisle, bowed and left the court room.

When I entered the foyer area, I saw Mr Trevenan talking to someone, and when he saw me he approached, “What has happened?” he asked me, “The Magistrate kicked me out,” I responded, and Mr Trevenan did not seemed too pleased, as he indicated for me to follow him, back into the courtroom that I had just exited.

“Now what! Mr Attorney General, what is the meaning of this interruption?” the Magistrate demanded, “Your Honour, I wish to register a complaint in regards to you having kicked out a member of the judiciary even if he is at the lowest level.

He is here to learn, and as such I suggest you withdraw your demand for this man, a distinguished and respected member of the Dundee Beach Community from attending this court as part of his training,” Mr Trevenan stated.

The Magistrate glared at Mr Trevenan, and a few moments later he looked towards me, “Mr…? You may remain in this courtroom for a period of one hour,” the Magistrate stated, and I was about to correct him, when Mr Trevenan spoke up, “Thankyou, your honour, for allowing Doctor James Shaw JP, to remain,” he said before giving a bow and exiting, and I sat back down.

When the one hour was up, I stood up and waited for the Magistrate to see me, before I bowed and exited the courtroom, and sighed with relief that I was out of there. “James, how did it go? Sorry about that, he can be very difficult some days,” Mr Trevenan said to me.

“That is ok, it was interesting, I didn’t take any notes because of the defendant been a minor. I was a little shocked that that Magistrate gives out heavy penalties, doesn’t he ever give some slack?” I replied, “No, not usually, he has been warned a few time for that, but he seems to just ignores those dislikes his methods,” Mr Trevenan said to me.

“Well I better be off, I have another court to attend, thankyou for your assistance with getting me to check out the different courts operate,” I said before heading off down the foyer to the elevators.

Two levels down, I entered the court room that was hearing a Local Court civil matter, and once again I sat at the back of the courtroom, after giving a bow to the Magistrate hearing the case. This time I pulled out my note pad and pen and as I listened, I began to make a few notes.

I decided to stay for two hours, as it was an interesting case, and when it was adjourned for the day, I exited the court and headed to the ground floor to buy some a cuppa and snack in a café just around the corner from the courthouse.

I was going through my notes when a realised someone had stopped at my table and I looked up. Jessica, please join me,” I said to her smiling. “Thanks, big brother informed me that you had a run in with one of the Magistrates,” Jessica said to me as she sat down.

“Yeah, the Magistrate in the Youth Court, anyway your brother went in and demanded that he allow me to attend the court, and after a stare down, the Magistrate allowed me to stay for an hour,” I replied, and Jessica laughed.

“How did you go with the other courts?” she asked me, “The Local Court in Civil matters I found interesting and I stayed for two hours till the end of the day, I decided that I will skip Youth Court tomorrow and catch up with Local Court Criminal tomorrow for two hours.

I will skip the NTCAT, since I already know how they operate, then attend the Work Health Court and Supreme Court later,” I announced, and Jessica nodded in understanding. “Are you coming for dinner tonight?” Jessica asked me, “I think I will pass if you don’t mind, as I have a few medical reports to review, before I have surgery on Friday,” I replied.

Jessica accepted my decision and for the following day, I had no more issues with attending court hearings, and the Local Court Criminal Hearing was very interesting, as was the Supreme Court, and as I arrived back at the hotel room, my phone beeped with a message.

“Dr Shaw, I have cleared the diary for tomorrow morning, so you can spend another half a day in the city. Melanie.” I smiled when I saw this and sent a quick message of thanks, before relaxing and having a shower before heading to the restaurant for some dinner.

On the Friday morning, I headed back to the Local Courts and I looked at the directory then the Court List for today, and I was deciding which court room to go to when my phone vibrated with a call, as I had turned off the ring sound.

Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I looked at the caller, and I quickly swiped the screen to answer the call. “Dr Shaw speaking,” I said hesitantly, “Hello James, this is Michael Trevenan speaking, I am just wondering if you are still in the city?” the Attorney General asked me.

“Yes, I am actually, I am trying to decide which court room to visit in the local court,” I replied, “Excellent news, come down the ground floor, I need to speak to you,” the Attorney General informed me, and when the call ended suddenly, I had a horrible feeling that I was about to be roped into something.

“Hello James, I have a huge favour to ask, and we need to go and see someone before I go any further,” the Attorney General said to me as he shook my hand and led the way back to the elevators, and once inside he pressed the button for the top floor.

As we stepped out of the elevator, I saw that that we were approaching the office of the Chief Magistrate, “Err, what are we doing on this level?” I asked, “Just wait and see,” the AG said with a hint of a smile, and I frowned at this response, as he pushed the door open into the foyer area of the office.

“Mr Attorney General. His Honour is waiting for you in the conference room,” the receptionist said as we approached, and Mr Trevenan turned to head down the passageway, and stopped at a double door, and knocked, before entering, and he motioned for me to follow.

“Your Honour, this is Dr James Shaw JP, from Dundee Beach,” the AG said to the gentleman sitting at the conference table, and he remained seated. “James, this is the Chief Magistrate, His Honour Maurice Hart,” the AG said to me as he completed the introductions.

“Please take a seat, so we can get this matter settled,” the CM said to us and we sat opposite him. Ten minutes later, we exited the office of the Chief Magistrate, and I was a little shocked at what had just happened.