An outspoken St. John’s defence lawyer has been vindicated by the Supreme Court in a dispute with the law society and NAPE.

Bob Buckingham was sanctioned for comments he made to media, including VOCM, after the death of his client, Jonathan Henoche, at HMP in 2019.

Buckingham said the Inuk man died at the hands of corrections officers, and that he knew more than he could say.

NAPE, the guards’ union, complained to the law society, saying that suggests they caused the inmate’s death.

But Buckingham shot back, saying his words were based on what NAPE president Jerry Earle had said before him—that correctional officers were involved.

The law society sided with NAPE, and issued Buckingham a letter of counsel or warning, which is shared with members and would be a stain on any potential appointment to the bench.

He appealed, and a Supreme Court judge threw out the letter and scolded the law society, or at least the Act that it follows, for not responding to the facts and arguments, and not giving reasons for their decision.

Justice Daniel Boone sent the matter back to the law society for “reconsideration,” and ordered them to pay Buckingham’s court costs.