Casablanca Lawyer Disbarred Over Facebook Post, Sparking Controversy

It all started with a complaint for "violation of integrity and honor" filed against this lawyer from the Casablanca bar for a post published on Facebook. The Casablanca Bar Council had dismissed the complaint, but the Attorney General filed an appeal against the decision. The file was thus transferred to the Advisory Chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal which rendered its decision. It decided on the outright disbarment of the lawyer.

This decision has sparked comments within the black-robed men. Why did the Casablanca Bar President and the Bar Council not apply the provisions of the law governing the legal profession, in particular the articles of Section 2 relating to the disciplinary procedure?, they wonder. They highlight Article 65 of this law.

This article stipulates that "the Bâtonnier must submit to the Bar Council any complaint addressed by the Attorney General of the King or by any complainant whatsoever against a lawyer within fifteen days of its receipt. The Council appoints one of its members as a rapporteur in order to carry out the necessary investigation into any complaint relating to the violation of legal or regulatory provisions of the profession and its rules, or any violation of integrity and honor. The Council decides, within a period of two months, on the presentation of the complaint, the dismissal of the file or the prosecution of the lawyer concerned".