Latest news and stories about court appointed lawyers in Portugal for expats and residents.
Rita Alarcão Júdice states that the Bar Association can take action against legal representatives who resign and abandon their clients' defence. She also admits to considering a change in the law to allow for interim payments to court-appointed lawyers.
The Ministry of Justice says it is not aware of João Massano's proposal, but does not object to the Bar Association creating permanent teams of court-appointed lawyers if it considers the current system does not provide an adequate response.
They would be 'substitute' lawyers prepared to take over the defence immediately when an accused person's legal representative renounces their mandate, as has happened in the Marquês case.
