When Dunedin lawyer Tim Black was sworn in as an acting district court judge Friday, many serious things were said but a stream of witty remarks also rocked the court with laughter.
Judge Black has a Family Court warrant to serve in the Palmerston North District Court and will also undertake some other judicial duties there.
''If you're human, you'll be feeling a bit nervous now,'' Principal Family Court Judge Laurence Ryan said in his welcoming address, reflecting on Judge Black's new role.
Being a judge could sometimes feel ''overwhelming'' but the role was also ''fulfilling'' and support was readily available from fellow judges, Judge Ryan told his new colleague, in the packed court room.
In another address, Dunedin lawyer Anita Chan QC noted that it was appropriate that Judge Black had been ''sworn in'', given his occasional use of some quite colourful language when discussing matters privately with colleagues.
A special sitting of the Dunedin District Court heard that Judge Black had previously practised in Balclutha, with law firm Sinclair Horder O'Malley and Co, later joining Anderson Lloyd in Dunedin.
David Robinson, president of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Law Society, praised Judge Black not only for his family law work as a lawyer, but also for his wider national role with the society's family law section.
Judge Black thanked everyone who had supported him over the years, and voiced his gratitude to staff at the former Balclutha court and at the Dunedin court.
Referring to claims about his use of colourful language, Judge Black took out his phone and said an app would prove helpful when he was speaking in Palmerston North.
More laughter was sparked when the phone duly produced a loud bleeping noise.
