Injustice of being judged by the colour of your skin

THREE times in one day while attending court last week I was assumed to be a defendant because of the colour of my skin – and on a fourth occasion I was assumed to be a journalist by a member of the public.

- Alexandra Wilson Criminal and family law barrister

It was a magistrates’ court so there were no wigs and gowns but I was dressed in a black suit like every other barrister and solicitor in court.

The only difference between me and everyone else in court that day was that they were all white and I am not. I was racially profiled.

One of the most difficult things I learned that day was how terrifying it must be to actually be a defendant. In that court, I was spoken to in a dismissive and rude way, which shouldn’t happen to anyone – representative or defendant.

I was ordered out of a courtroom before I was even given the opportunity to speak.

Court is scary enough for people – the experience doesn’t need to be made any worse.

It upset me that four people had been so quick to reject the possibility that I was the barrister. This wasn’t the first time it had happened but for it to happen so many times in one day was exhausting.

HAVING shared my experience, most of the black barristers and solicitors that I know have reached out to share their very similar experiences. I’ve realised that so many black lawyers have to put up with this racism on a regular basis.