Bermuda's Queen's Counsel system.

She will present a motion for its abolition to the 160-member Bar Association's annual general meeting.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, also the Environment Minister, has been a fierce critic of the way local lawyers are appointed as Queen's Counsel.

Yesterday she said the system was divisive in the Bermuda Bar, and "intellectually dishonest''.

It could allow average local lawyers, with meaningless QC status, to push up their fees. "I think it should be scrapped,'' she said.

There was no parallel between Bermuda's system with that of the United Kingdom, she added.

In Bermuda any lawyer of 15 years standing can apply to become a QC.

The applications are sent to the Deputy Governor and copied to the Bar Association and the Chief Justice for comment.

The 10-member Bar Council, the executive of the Bar Association, also comments on the applications.

These are then forwarded for approval to the Foreign and Commonwealth Officer in England.

QC requirements in England are far more demanding, with only barristers with vast courtroom experience being considered.

The title allows a barrister to charge his clients more, and wear silk robes.

Recently, controversy erupted after veteran trial lawyer Mrs. Lois Browne Evans was turned down for the QC title.

The decision was bitterly attacked by several lawyers, including Mrs.

Cartwright DeCouto.

Yesterday she said she was aware of other senior and eminent attorneys who had been turned down.

Less deserving lawyers, meanwhile, had received the title.

"In my view the present system brings derision on the legal profession. I am speaking with my lawyer's hat on. Government has no role to play in this at all,'' she said.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto stressed she had never applied for QC status, nor would ever contemplate doing so, whatever the outcome of her motion at the private meeting at Cathedral Hall, which starts at 12.30 p.m.

She added voting for her motion would be by secret ballot.

It is understood her motion would succeed through a simple majority. It would then be for the Bar Council to scrap the QC system.

She said she would also urge current title holders to refrain from using it in any "professional or practical way''.