A district court judge and her reality TV star partner have apologised for “verbally attacking” Winston Peters, Casey Costello and other New Zealand First members at a Christmas party.
Chief Judge Heemi Taumaunu has also apologised on behalf of the court.
Judge Ema Aitken and intensive care specialist David Galler were attending an end-of-year bash for district judges at Auckland’s exclusive Northern Club last month, when they gate-crashed a private function for Peters’ party in a neighbouring room.
The rumpus started as Peters was making a speech. It’s alleged Aitken tried to enter the room and shouted: “He’s lying! How can you let him say that?”
So Judge Aitken was presumably drunk (it is worse off she was sober), gatecrashed a NZ First party and abused the Deputy PM – calling him a liar.
This would be terrible behaviour for any person, but for a judge it is fatally inappropriate.
A video clip from the party also shows prominent barrister, Michael Reed KC, refusing to stop taking photographs of NZ First guests, including Shane Jones’ wife Dot, despite strict club rules.
That is creepy.
Attorney-General Judith Collins, who is the Crown’s senior law officer, said she was aware of the incident and “appalled by it”.
“I have told the Chief Justice that such behaviour is completely unacceptable and I expect it to be addressed,” she said.
The appropriate way to address this is by resignation.
According to an incident report, compiled by an independent lawyer acting on behalf of Northern Club and NZ First, based on witness statements, Aitken left the dinner to use the bathroom and heard Peters’ speech as she passed.
The report says she accused Peters of lying, in a comment to Holly Howard, who asked her to leave.
“However, Judge Aitken continued to shout and make a scene … Judge Aitken then told Ms Howard that there was a room full of judges next door, and they would be very interested to hear about this,” the incident report said.
Threatening and bullying behaviour.
In the second video, the report reveals, Reed tells the staff member: “Don’t touch me because you will be sued for a lot of money.” He also tells him “Can you be quiet, can you be quiet?”
The sense of entitlement is high.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
6 comments:
The arrogance is beyond belief. I also find it incredible that a KC would bother taking photos. “I am a member of the Wellington Club don’t you know”
No surprise.
Who let the lunatics out of the insane asylum?
I understand this judge is past retirement age and on a temporary warrant. However, one wonders about her attitude and those of the other judges when they have been deciding cases because that will have an effect on their judgment. This instance just shows what has been there already.
This little bunny would like to know what the "lie" was that Winston was accused of? Maybe it was some big porky like "Tikanga is not law" or "There are no principls in the Treaty of Waitangi" - oh hang on if that was the case he would have been telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me ... Judge!
I don't think they have any idea how much the judiciary is in disfavour, from the top down - rather unfairly as there are (probably) many sober, ethical, intelligent men and women who do an honest day's work. Not at the top though.
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