Solicitors in Dublin are being urged to co-operate with the judge at the centre of a solicitors' boycott in Cork, when he begins sitting in Dublin District Court next Monday.
Judge Michael Pattwell is to leave Cork District Court until a judicial review of his decision to hold a legal aid solicitor in contempt of court is completed.
The director-general of the Law Society, Mr Ken Murphy, was asked if he thought solicitors in the capital should refuse to co-operate with Judge Pattwell, in support of their colleagues in the Southern Law Association (SLA).
Mr Murphy replied: "I would be very surprised if any solicitor took that attitude and we [the Law Society] would certainly not recommend it."
That should not be seen as reflecting the society's view of the merits of the dispute, he said, but rather that "we see it as a matter between Judge Pattwell and the SLA. We don't see any reason for others to get involved with it".
The president of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, said yesterday that Judge Pattwell had asked to be transferred to a court outside the area affected by the boycott.
"It was his own idea that he be moved. He thought it would be helpful if he sat in Dublin," Judge Smithwick said. He added that the move did not reflect any opinion on the dispute, caused by Judge Pattwell's holding in contempt of Ms Marguerite Fennell, a legal aid solicitor.
Speaking from his home, Judge Smithwick said that he believed the arrangement need not last very long. "I think it will be for just a week, maybe two, I don't think it will be any more than that. By that stage, I think, matters will have been clarified," he said.
Mr Murphy said the move would allow "a breathing space pending the outcome of the judicial review which is commencing this week."
Ms Fennell was held in contempt of court at Kanturk District Court before Judge Pattwell on Wednesday last, was arrested, and was fined £2 when she continued to argue the case for her client before the judge. Other solicitors at the court walked out and refused to attend before the judge.
Later members of the Law Association and the Free Legal Aid Board met the judge in an attempt to have the ruling on Ms Fennell struck out.
The judge refused, and the association said its members were withdrawing their services from courts throughout his area.