Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The case of the street musician lawyer

" ... I'm sure you're anxious to know what happened to Valerie Faure, the French lawyer I wrote about in my last column, who was accused of bringing her profession into disrepute on the grounds that she was also a street musician (an accordionist accompanying her violinist husband) who accepted money from satisfied listeners. Last week she appeared before the Bergerac bar's disciplinary committee, and scored a triumph, or possibly, depending on which way you look at it, threw away her legal career. She arrived at the hearing followed by her street-musician friends and demanded, through the lawyer representing her, that she be given the right to perform a reconstruction of her musical act. No, ruled the disciplinary tribunal's president.

Disregarding the refusal, Maître Faure accused her accusers of abusing their powers and violating her freedom of expression, then proceeded - wearing her advocate's robes - to give what one paper described as a boisterous concert. The music was much appreciated by the audience but not, it seems, by the disciplinary committee, who walked out. It will be giving its decision next month. ... "

~ Full article ~

 

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