TBB Ends Free Counsel Strike
The settlement between the TBB and government comes after an August 10 meeting in Istanbul where Erdogan and relevant ministers met with TBB executives and chairmen of 48 Bar Associations.
Diyarbakir Bar Association Chairman Sezgin Tanrikulu, who attended the meeting, told bianet that taking into consideration the rights of defendants and in view of the determination to solve the problem expressed on part of the Prime Minister, they had decided to resume with the appointment of 'obligatory counsel' where required.
The TBB had halted all such services at start of the month due to a backlog of payments on part of the Ministry of Justice and no forthcoming solution for a realistic budget that would compensate for the time put in by lawyers to deliver the service. Counsel is appointed by Bar Associations, which then claim back for the cost.
Tanrikulu explained that despite the problems that had continued for months their repeated calls for a solution had been ignored and said it was "positive" that the Prime Minister had finally taken a conclusive step to address the issue.
Present at last Thursday's meeting alongside Erdogan was Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and Minister of Finance Kemal Unakitan.
Tanrikulu said that after being briefed by TBB executives of the issue, Erdogan had consulted with his ministers and had issued instructions to Cicek and Unakitan to prepare a new CMK at the start of the new judicial year to overcome problems. He also asked them to work towards creating a special commission that would work in coordination with the bar associations.
A first meeting of the new commission was scheduled to be held today, August 14.
According to Tanrikulu, Erdogan also gave instructions to Finance Minister Unakitan for a payment plan to be prepared towards making advance payments to lawyers. (KO/II/YE)
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