A Hobart magistrate has reacted angrily to a lawyer’s comment that a court hearing was ‘getting boring’

A magistrate has warned a lawyer not to be “condescending”, saying she was close to a contempt charge after calling a hearing “boring”.

A Hobart magistrate has reacted angrily to a lawyer’s comment that a hearing was “getting boring”.

A HOBART magistrate has reacted angrily to a lawyer’s comment in court that a hearing was “getting boring”, warning her she could face a contempt charge.

Lawyer Mai Truong was representing a client before Magistrate Reg Marron on Tuesday when she said the hearing was “getting boring”.

“What did you say?” Mr Marron asked her repeatedly, raising his voice.

Ms Truong said she withdrew the comment and did not want to repeat it.

Mr Marron asked her again to tell him what she said.

Ms Truong said she had said the hearing was “getting boring” and apologised for the comment.

“You are this far from a contempt charge,” Mr Marron said.

Later in the hearing Mr Marron warned Ms Truong about her tone.

“Don’t you be condescending to me,” he said.

He told her she was not on top of her client’s case.

“I’m sorry, I’m trying my best,” Ms Truong said.

She told the court she had been ill for two weeks and had been affected by medication.