Leo Crockwell in a 2010 court appearance in St. John's. Telegram file photoST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Leo Crockwell protested Monday the Crown’s request for an amicus curiae to assist at his upcoming trial, saying there’s no need for one since he’s not planning on self-representing.
“Are you the same judge that signed an illegal warrant against me a few years ago? If so, we have a bias here already and I want a different judge on the bench,” Crockwell said to Judge Lois Skanes. Prosecutor Nicole Hurley applied to the court for an amicus curiae — an impartial lawyer to provide information and advice on issues of law — for Crockwell’s upcoming two-day trial, scheduled to begin Oct. 24. Typically an amicus curiae is appointed in cases where an accused is self-representing, but the appointment can be made even if an accused has a lawyer, as Skanes agreed to do at the Crown’s request in Crockwell’s case.
“I’ve been advised that when your matter has been called in court, you have not taken the opportunity to tell the judge that,” Skanes replied. She told Crockwell she would ask corrections staff at HMP to ensure he can use the phone to contact a private lawyer.