Over the past few weeks, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has had several Free National Movement Candidates in his crosshairs. However yesterday he called out the party’s Secretary General Michael Foulkes for being disbarred from the Florida Bar.
Mr. Roberts was speaking to reporters at the Progressive Liberal Headquarters on Farrington Road.
“I mentioned Michael Foulkes who was disbarred as a lawyer in the United States, I thought he would be an unfit candidate and I think they should go and find out why Mr. Foulkes was disbarred.
The Journal asked Free National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie about this revelation, and he vehemently refuted Mr. Roberts claims.
“Michael was never disbarred in Florida, Michael was called to the Florida Bar and then Michael came to The Bahamas and did the prosecutor conversion after graduating from the Eugene Dupuch Law School.
“After this, he did his pupilage and when he was finished he was called to The Bahamas Bar. After this, he resigned from the Florida Bar, ”Mr. Collie said.
Upon investigation The Journal came across an article from the South Florida based newspaper “Sun- Sentinel” dated December 16th 2002 under the headline “Supreme Court Punishes Attorneys”.
An excerpt from the article read “Michael Augustine Foulkes, of Miami, was suspended from practicing law until further court order. He abandoned his law office and client files, causing several clients to file complaints with the Bar. He could not be reached for comment,” according to Florida newspaper.
The Journal also came across a newsletter from The Florida Bar Association dated July 1st 2003 which outlined The Florida Supreme Court suspending seven attorneys, disbarring one, reprimanding two, accepting the resignation of two, and placing one attorney on probation.
The newsletter issued the following quote in relation to Mr. Foulkes :
“Michael Augustine Foulkes, 4770 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 570, Miami, resigned in lieu of disciplinary proceedings, with leave to seek readmission after five years, effective immediately following a May 8 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995)
“Foulkes was suspended from practicing law effective October 31 (SC02-2290), due to the abandonment of his law practice and clients’ files. (Case no. SC03-623).
Mr. Foulkes’ biography on the Free National Movement’s website indicates that he earned a Juris Doctor Degree from Nova Law and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School. He was called to the Bahamas Bar in 2000.
Foulkes is a current partner at Bethel, Moss and Co. Law Firm.
Calls were made to Mr. Foulkes for comments on the matter, but they were unanswered up to press time.
