A prominent city lawyer spent more than three hours in a holding cell at the Calgary courthouse following an alleged altercation with sheriffs after he was ordered out of court by a judge Friday morning. An investigation is now being conducted by Calgary police on whether any criminal charges should be laid against the lawyer, Ian Savage, who has been in the news in recent weeks as president of the Calgary Defence Lawyers Association advocating a better Legal Aid deal from the provincial government. Savage said after his release from custody that he had requested a mistrial and wanted to have provincial court Judge Pat McIlhargey recused from an impaired driving case, but McIlhargey would not allow the application to be heard. There was further discussion between the lawyer and judge, who told Crown prosecutor Kevin Doyle to call his next witness in the continuation of the trial. McIlhargey then ordered a sheriff to escort Savage out of the courtroom, where there were three more sheriffs in the hallway, As they left the courtroom, Savage stopped briefly. When they got outside the court room in the hallway the sheriff escorting the lawyer arrested him and took him to a basement cell. "I was trying to properly represent my client," Savage said outside court. "The judge ordered the sheriffs to take me out of the courtroom. I did not get a chance to leave on my own. "I understand police are investigating. I look forward to speaking with them." Savage said two other defence lawyers — Norm Kelly and Jim Edgett — had their cellphones confiscated as a result of allegedly trying to take videos of the incident in the hallway outside the 10th floor courtroom. He said they were evicted from the courthouse and told not to return that day. He said they had their phones returned later. It is prohibited for anyone to take photographs or video in the courthouse without permission. Calgary Chief Crown prosecutor Lloyd Robertson said his office would not be involved in any investigation or laying of charges. He also did not expect any decision on charges to be made until there is a review of transcripts of the hearing, as well as any available video from inside and outside the courtroom. Savage, president of the Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyers’ Association, has been a strong advocate for the Legal Aid system. Recently, the association set up a toll-free phone line to help people who have been denied Legal Aid successfully petition the court for coverage. While volunteer lawyers in both Calgary and Edmonton will help people obtain coverage via court orders, the group’s aim is to get the provincial government to boost its Legal Aid contribution, which hasn’t changed since 2011.

dslade@calgaryherald.com

Twitter.com/heraldcourt