The Chamber of Advocacy has taken a strong disciplinary measure against lawyer Lefter Xhengo, suspending his license for two years. The decision comes after he took part in the hearing to determine the security measure against Leli Kaja at GJKKO, in violation of the boycott declared by lawyers.
The Disciplinary Committee’s decision
According to the version made public to the media, the Disciplinary Committee of the Chamber of Advocacy decided to suspend Lefter Xhengo’s license for two years. He was acting as counsel for Leli Kaja.
The decision was taken after an emergency meeting held on Friday, immediately after two lawyers took part in court hearings despite the boycott declared by the Chamber of Advocacy.
The hearing that led to the measure
Xhengo took part in the hearing on the determination of the security measure at GJKKO, which was considered a breach of the boycott by the legal profession’s bodies.
The case concerned the administrator of the Elbasan incinerator, a file that, because of its public sensitivity and significance, has drawn increased attention also to the way court procedures are being conducted.
Another case also under review
In parallel, the Disciplinary Committee is also reviewing the case of another lawyer, who a day earlier took part in the hearing on the security measure against Gerta Gjoci.
So far, no final decision has been made public in that case, while the meeting to review it is continuing.
Why the lawyers are boycotting
The boycott was undertaken as a form of protest against GJKKO’s regulation, which lawyers oppose on the grounds that it infringes on the practice of their profession.
The clash once again highlights the tension between the functioning of the special courts and the legal community’s claims of procedural restrictions, in a climate where disciplinary decisions and institutional rules are being set against each other.
The suspension of Lefter Xhengo marks, so far, the harshest reaction by the Chamber of Advocacy to a breach of the boycott.
It remains to be seen whether similar measures will also be applied in the other cases under review.