The Chief Justice nominee Justice Sophia Akuffo has described lawyers advertising on social media as distasteful.
Justice Akuffo’s comment comes in the wake of the suspension of popular Human Rights lawyer Francis Sosu for advertising on Facebook by the General Legal Council.
His suspension sparked a debate amongst a section of the public and some lawyers who argued that the law preventing legal practitioners from advertising was outmoded and needed to be repealed.
But speaking at Parliament’s appointments committee during her vetting Friday, Justice Akuffo said allowing lawyers to advertise is wrong and breaches the laws and ethics guiding the noble profession.
“Am a 67-years-old woman and I believe that dignity at the bar is as important as dignity at the bench…the idea of lawyers touting themselves on Facebook is distasteful and aside that the law is clear and the law is against touting.
“Lawyers can have websites but the law doesn’t allow for advertising on social media,” Justice Akuffo said adding that there are jurisdictions that permit the use of social media in legal work but she is yet to study that.
