“The changes would significantly impair the independence of the judiciary. Currently, judges can only be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament on grounds of misbehaviour or mental impairment. The changes would empower the Judicial Services Commission, an executive body, to dismiss judges without cause or due process. This is a significant erosion of the […]
Legal task force in US and other actions around the globe as virus spreads
The ABA’s Task Force on Legal Needs Arising Out of the 2020 Pandemic includes representatives from top legal organisations. The group will identify legal needs arising from the pandemic, make recommendations to address those needs and help mobilise volunteer lawyers and legal professionals for people who need help.
Chief of Criminal Cases Review Commission announced
Colin Carruthers was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990. He has had significant experience in criminal work, both prosecution and defence, including Serious Fraud Office prosecutions, tax prosecutions, securities prosecutions and other regulatory prosecutions.
Seven predictions for litigation and regulation in 2020 unveiled
The firm said that 2020 will be the year in which climate change will begin to be litigated in New Zealand. It said that climate change and the appropriate response is a defining issue and urged boards to become “earth-competent.”
Initial Independent Children’s Monitor report released
Working from an outcomes based approach the Monitor will look at how the Oranga Tamariki system enhances the wellbeing and life outcomes for the children and young people it comes in contact with. Central to this is the important role whānau, hapū and iwi play in working with Oranga Tamariki to achieve positive experiences and […]
21 new District Court Judges appointed
Mr Parker says 10 of the new judges are Māori, eight Pākehā, one Māori/Chinese and two Samoan. Twelve of the new judges are women. “It’s pleasing to see high quality appointees coming forward from diverse backgrounds. It is important that the judiciary reflects the make-up of the community it serves,” he says.
Feedback from legal profession sought to close “justice gap”
In a recently released discussion paper, the statutory body detailed proposed improvements to the procedures to tackle this unmet need, which has been referred to as the “justice gap.” The gap is apparent, as shown by the increasing number of unrepresented litigants before the courts, including many litigants who cannot afford legal representation, the committee said.
Consultation open on possible reform of civil trial procedures
“The committee has not decided its preferred option(s) and it may consider options to reduce the costs of bringing a matter to court that are not discussed in this paper. Submitters are encouraged to make any other proposal for rules reform that they consider would improve access to civil justice.”
Nine acting judges appointed
Acting warrants announced for the District, Family, and Employment Courts Attorney-General David Parker has announced the following nine acting warrants for the District, Family, and Employment Courts
Concern over inaccurate news story and lack of correction
The Waatea News website published an item on August 9, 2019 headlined “Hobson’s Pledge tries to roll Tauranga land return.” It reported historian Buddy Mikaere saying the local council needed to stand up to a campaign by Don Brash’s Hobson’s Pledge group trying to overturn a Tauranga City Council decision to return a block of land next to […]