Lyle Howe disciplinary hearing to extend into new year

A disciplinary hearing that was originally expected to last "a couple of weeks" will now spill into the new year.

The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society accuses suspended Halifax defence lawyer Lyle Howe of professional misconduct and professional incompetence. If found guilty, he could be disbarred.

A three-member panel first started hearing evidence against Howe in the fall of 2015 and has sat for about 60 days spread over the last year.

On Thursday morning, panel chair Ron MacDonald said it now appears the public hearing won't be complete until at least March 2017. 

"I have to do my regular job and I haven't been doing it enough," MacDonald said. He is the head of the province's Serious Incident Response Team, the unit that investigates serious complaints against police.

Howe to continue testimony in new year

The two other panel members hearing the case, defence lawyer Don Murray and urologist Dr. Richard Norman, have also had to adjust their work schedules to accommodate the hearing.

MacDonald told the hearing he can only budget four days in January so Howe and another witness can finish testifying. More dates may be added in March for closing arguments.

Howe's testimony on Thursday focussed on allegations he was double-booked on several occasions — scheduled to be in two or more courtrooms at the same time. Howe and his lawyer went through his court calendar line by line, comparing the notations with his memories of what actually happened.

Howe has admitted to being late for court and double-booked, two of the principal allegations against him. But he says he's no different in that regard than other lawyers.

He has maintained throughout the hearing the barristers' society is holding him to a higher standard because he is black.

The CBC's Blair Rhodes live blogged from the hearing.