Lyle Howe makes unsuccessful bid to postpone disciplinary hearing

A disciplinary hearing into allegations of professional misconduct against Halifax lawyer Lyle Howe will continue this weekdespite his attempt to have it adjourned until September.

On Monday, theNova Scotia Barristers' Society panel rejected Howe's bid to have fourdays of hearings put off until next month. The hearings will now begin Tuesday and run until Thursday.

Request comes too late

Howe said the previous five weeks of hearings held throughout the summer have left his legal team exhausted, but the society argued the hearing has been going on for many months andHoweshould not be requesting adjournments this late in the process.

Howe's wife, lawyer Laura McCarthy, was on the stand last week.

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The society has accused Howe of professional misconduct and professional incompetence. If found guilty, he could be disbarred.

Discrimination alleged

Howehasarguedhe has done nothing different from other lawyers, but he is the only one being singled out. He alleges he's being discriminated against because he is black.

His hearing started last year and has had weeks of hearings spread over several months. In an effort to speed things up, several additional days of hearings were added through the summer.

While hearing dates are only scheduled as far asthis Thursday, the matter is expected to continue into the fall.