The antics of John Deed make for amusing and well-acted
television drama but I did not expect them to be replicated
in our highest courts.
I refer to the article (ODT, 30.11.09) recounting that the
highest court in the land has recalled a judgement after one
of its judges disclosed that he effectively owed nearly a
quarter of a million dollars to a QC who appeared before him
in the Appeal Court.
The recall was based on apparent bias relating to the
relationship between a judge and counsel.
Does it sound impossibly moralistic to suggest that a judge
of the Supreme Court would be better not to have racing
interests in respect of which he owes some hundreds of
thousands of dollars?
To my mind, this whole business reflects a cynicism that if
something is personal and legal, it is necessarily
appropriate.
At a time when our newly constituted Supreme Court is seeking
to establish itself as an effective substitute for the Privy
Council, this sad episode should arguably have wider
consequences for the individuals involved.
Keith Kendall
City Rise
- Keith Kendall is a retired lawyer.
- In recognition of the
importance of readers' contribution to the letters page, the
newspaper each week selects a Letter of the Week, with a book
prize courtesy of Dunedin publisher Longacre Press.
This week's winner, Keith Kendall, of City Rise, receives
a copy of Dave Cull's Big Weather South, Longacre Press,
$29.99.
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