That's the decision that Justice Courtney Abel handed down after her case was argued before him in chambers.

Matura made her mis-step when she was representing BGYEA. You'll probably recall that the Lands Department was trying to block them from using the road reserve in Harmonyville on the Western Highway. The Government took them to court, and the case was finally settled in February, after mediation. But, before the attorneys for both sides could sign on the dotted line, Matura-Shepherd granted an interview to the press in February and she outlined the resolution.

But, apparently, the rules say that the information discussed in mediation sessions is supposed to be kept confidential, and Deputy Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, applied to the court on behalf of the Government saying that Matura-Shepherd be cited for contempt.

They submitted a transcript of the interview she gave to 7News, and Channel 5, and also an article that she wrote about the case in the Amandala. The government's attorney, Julie-Ann Ellis as well as Audrey Matura-Shepherd's attorney, Godfrey Smith made oral arguments as to why she did or did not break the confidentially rules of the Mediation Sessions with her public comments.

That was about 4 weeks ago and today Justice Courtney Abel handed down a written ruling in which he gave Matura-Shepherd a stern put down and a condemnation in very strong language.

In a portion of his 15 page judgment, Justice Abel says, quote,

"Indeed I consider the conduct of Mrs. Matura Shepard without any redeeming quality; and… Mrs. Matura Shepard's conduct suggests that she could not have looked at or have had any regard to the rules, as her conduct suggest(s) a wanton disregard to any notion of confidentiality…"

It continues, quote, "such conduct even suggest(s) a deliberate and flagrant, even contumacious flouting of such rules by such a breach of its confidentiality provision as to be unimaginable by a responsible Counsel, and an officer of the court…as it borders on contempt of this court's connected mediation process…"

And that's not all. Justice Abel adds, quote, " the only possible benefit that could be gained from it, as far as I could discern, very unhappily, was self- publicity…, as the content and circumstances of such disclosure, it seems to me, tended to undermine even her client's own interest in satisfactorily concluding a final agreement with the GOB which was still being worked out at the time of such publication…" End Quote.

With that, the judge ordered her to pay $3,000 a sanction for this breach of confidentiality.

After news began spreading that the judgment had been delivered, reporters started contacting Matura-Shepherd for a comment. She has not responded to them, and she also declined an interview to Krem News who was at court when the parties exited after the hearing.