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Friday, December 20, 2024

Heather du Plessis-Allan: The judge who yelled at Winston should lose her job

One of the most surprising things about that judge allegedly yelling at Winston Peters in the Northern Club is that she is still in her job. 

I want to be clear; I don’t want her to lose her job over this, and I don’t even want to be seen to be calling for her head. 

I’m just pointing out that she should lose her job. 

Because what happened was actually quite serious. We are talking about a judge yelling, not denied, at the deputy Prime Minister, the second most senior politician in the country. 

She also accused him, again not denied, of lying in front of a room of people. 

Now, you flip that around and imagine it’s a senior minister doing the same, yelling at very senior judges and saying they’re lying in front of a room full of people. 

Tell me, does that minister keep their job? 

No way. They go. 

There’s no way that would be tolerated because no Government would want to be seen to tolerate that kind of behaviour, and it’s got to be the same for the judiciary. They cannot be seen to tolerate verbal attacks on ministers of Government. 

Particularly right now. Maybe a few years ago it wouldn't have mattered quite as much. 

But right now, there is actually considerable tension between the judiciary and the Government to the point it's actually boiling over at times. 

We’ve got courts and lawyers taking cracks at Parliament and that Parliament passing multiple laws to reign in judges. 

We’ve got accusations of the Waitangi Tribunal overreaching, Shane Jones making comments about so-called "activist judges" and there is a real concern that comity, which is the mutual respect between the two, is breaking down. 

This is so fundamental to a democracy likes ours working. 

It is so bad for the judiciary to be perceived to be this hostile towards the current Government. 

I can’t see how Ema Aitken keeps her job. 

Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Comity is no longer exists in the eyes of some of the entitled classes.

Sadly this judge having waved her political flag of preference needs to be made an example of so that the other horses are sent off scared....

The power stands with the people and the people elect the parliament we do not elect these elites but maybe we should?

Anonymous said...

Agreed. How did this excuse for a human being ever get to be a Judge?

John Mayes said...

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm just an ordinary citizen with little knowledge about law and democracy, but I would have thought that fact, law and reason within the legal profession, rather than public emotional reaction, were fundamental to the success of democracy and that breaches of this nature should be dealt with.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Heather but what is it? Do you not want to call for her to be sacked but want her to be sacked???

You are the media Heather, people listen and it is you and the MSM that need to hold these people to account.

If you cannot, then don't bother writing an article like this that sits firmly on the fence.....you either hold her to account for the rest of us or you don't.

Most if not all reasoned people would see this person as being completely at odds with societies 'rules' - the very ones she is tasked to uphold and therefore she is no longer fit for purpose.

Frankly there is no wriggle room. In any other situation with any other employee they would be gone and well before lunchtime.

ross meurant said...

Shocking outburst by self assessed eminent individuals.

The Northern Club, a bastion of refinement, eloquence and black tie or mess kits compulsory, seeming to embrace Victorian age ethos, where the rich, and powerful prevailed and the stupid were tolerated (all-be the latter were often incestuously bred).

Perhaps perpetrators had consumed one 2 many?

However, Hon Judy has a problem, as many may agree with the messages in the outburst..


A prescient Hon Judy ( a recent addition to the list of QCs ostensible attaining this rank at the recommendation of colleagues) may well elevate this bar room brawl, for the simple reason of deflecting attention from the economy.

Anonymous said...

Completely agree. I have come to hold the judiciary in contempt, which must be unfair to some.

ross meurant said...

Justice is Money: Just Money.

Barend Vlaardingerbroek said...

Lovely thumbnail sketch of the Northern Club, Ross.
That's why we call these people "champagne socialists" (or as I like to put it, "penthouse proletarians".
You can't believe a word they say about 'social justice'. Not a syllable.

Anonymous said...

The Northern Club needs to be rebranded as the Moron Club

anonymous said...

Critical Race Theory and Identity Politics have all but ruined the once respected NZ judiciary. No longer. Those in disagreement must rise and protest = or leave NZ. They have no future in the present context.

Anonymous said...

Essential attributes of any person appointed as a judge: honourable, rational, objective with a solid grounding of humility. On every count this judge, like a number of her colleagues, fails. How have we reached this cratering of our essential institutions?

anonymous said...

The last question is easy: citizens are witnessing the decolonization of NZ - which means the indigenization of NZ where power and money are shifted to a minority based on ancestry.
Strategies for this process: i) Critical Race Theory, + ii) Identity Politics including DEI hires - in place for 15 years. e.g. the Solicitor General issue.

The greatest irony: NZ is the world leader in promoting progress for its so-called indigenous people. All has back fired badly.

Why can people not see this?

TJS said...

A very sad indictment of our society.

Whatever happened to our honest, senior people, who were once, the salt of the earth?

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable behaviour for a Judge what example does that give us

Brian W. said...

I totally AGREE with these THREE persons whom have been vilified for telling what is actual fact. Most commenters are "anonymous" - "yeh right" - just not brave enough. Where is the proof that these three well educated people had had anything alcoholic. To Assume means - To make an "ASS" out of "U" and "ME". I invite you to research the MANY years of huge challenge that Linda Valerie RABSON has suffered, and still suffers, thanks to the Police and the Courts. Totally shameful.