In what many say is irresponsible, a local magistrate has contributed to the Bahamas’ disturbing social problems by allowing handbag designer Harl Taylor to get away with contempt of court.
Magistrate Carol Misiewicz, whose controversial judgments in the past have garnered criticism of her ethics and legal knowledge, cancelled a warrant of arrest for Harlan Taylor after he finally appeared in court, but a day late.
The warrant was issued by Magistrate Misiewicz when Mr. Taylor failed to appear in court Tuesday on charges of causing harm to an American visiting the Islands of The Bahamas. The foreign victim flew to the Bahamas exclusively for the court case on Tuesday only to hear that the case would be adjourned due to Mr. Taylor’s intentional refusal to appear.
Mr. Taylor, using an old legal defense technique popular with unscrupulous Bahamian attorneys, failed to appear in court, then came in the next day to clear up the “misunderstanding””. ﾠThe technique sometimes involves a corrupt magistrate who does not pursue the criminal charges of contempt of court
