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Investigation after black barrister mistaken three times for defendant by staff

Alexandra Wilson was stopped three times while trying to reach the prosecutor to discuss the case.
Alexandra Wilson was stopped three times while trying to reach the prosecutor to discuss the case. (Getty Images)

The head of the UK’s court service has apologised to a black barrister after she was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day by staff.

Alexandra Wilson, a criminal and family barrister, tweeted about being “absolutely exhausted” after staff at the court failed to recognise who she was several times.

Kevin Sadler, the acting chief executive of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service apologised to Wilson, saying it was “totally unacceptable behaviour”, and added that an investigation was being launched.

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In the tweets, Wilson said she “needed to shine a light” on the problem because “so many people like me seem to experience the same thing”.

She explained when she arrived at court on Wednesday and the security officer asked for her name so he could find it on the list of defendants.

She said: “I explained I was a barrister. He apologised and guided me through security.

“At this point I tried to shrug it off as an innocent mistake.”

But she carried on and it happened again, after meeting with her clients she then tried to enter the courtroom to discuss the case with the prosecutor but a member of the public told her not to go in mistaking her for a journalist.

Wilson said: “I asked why and she said because it’s a court, only lawyers can go in. She said I was a journalist.”

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She was then told by an usher who knew who she was to ignore them and go in the courtroom.

As soon as Wilson entered the court she was stopped for a third time.

She said: “As I opened the door, a solicitor/barrister said I needed to wait outside court and said the usher would come outside and sign me in and the court would call me in for my case.

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“I explained I’m a barrister. She looked embarrassed and said ‘oh, I see’.”

Wilson was then stopped for a fourth time, and the third time by a member of staff, at the court as she approached the prosecutor.

She said: “Before I got there the clerk, very loudly, told me to leave the courtroom and said the usher would be out shortly.

“Before I could respond she then asked if I was represented.

“I, again, explained that I am a defence barrister trying to speak to the prosecutor.

“She looked at me, said ‘oh right, ok’ and continued with what she was doing.”

Wilson said she had lodged a formal complaint about the incident saying: “I don’t expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work.”

Sadler responded to Wilson’s twitter thread and said: “I’m investigating the role of my staff and contractors as a matter of urgency.

“This is not the behaviour anyone should expect and certainly does not reflect our values.”

Last week a Ministry of Justice report found BAME people “over-represented in applications for judicial appointment” but are “less likely to be successful”.

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