7 News Belize

Did Magistrate Hurl Throw The Case Because of Personal Reasons?
posted (June 4, 2015)
And there is another scandal breaking in the judicial and legal circles, which involves a judge acting improperly and unethically. He's Magistrate Hurl Mervin Hamilton who sits as judge in the lower court in Corozal Town. We've since confirmed that he was found guilty of using his authority as Magistrate to favorably influence the outcome of a case, which had an obvious appearance of bias.

A complaint emerged back in 2013 in which a female he was romantically involved with had a case in the Belize Family Court. This female was in a legal dispute with her husband over maintenance and the access to their child. Our information is that this affair was happening when the case went to court, and it found its way to Magistrate Hamilton's desk. We're told that he was asked by his peers to recuse himself on an appearance of bias, but he went forward anyway as the judge in the case. We're told that he decided favorably for the woman he was involved with, and when her husband found out, he complained formally against the Magistrate to the legal community. That's when the Chief Magistrate got involved, gathered all the necessary evidence and forwarded them to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which is chaired by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin.

Our information says that the tribunal went through all the necessary steps and even allowed Magistrate Hamilton to defend himself. He brought in his legal counsel, and was allowed to rebut the evidence against him before the Commission. That case finally was completed as recently and the outcome was that Magistrate Hamilton was found guilty of the allegation against him.

So then, what's the penalty for such an embarrassing lapse in judgment? Well, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission has sentenced Hamilton to 1 month suspension - which seems to amount to a mere slap on the wrist.

Before serving in the Corozal Magistrate's Court, Hamilton was on the bench in the Belmopan Magistrate's Court.

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