Contempt of court – Counsel. The defendant barrister appealed against the finding that he was in contempt of court in the course of representing his client. The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in allowing the appeal, held that the judge's finding that the defendant had been impertinent had not demonstrated an inability impartially to determine whether the conduct constituted a contempt of court. However, the email informing the defendant of the contempt hearing had clearly fallen short of the procedural requirements set out in the CPR. In cases of alleged contempt, strict observance of the provisions was essential.