Special Counsel appointed

Judith Collins announced on Friday:

Dr Walter Sofronoff QC, Solicitor-General of Queensland, has been appointed Special Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Panel to inquire further into complaints against Justice Wilson, Acting Attorney-General Judith Collins said today.

The Attorney-General must appoint and instruct a person to act as Special Counsel in an inquiry by a Judicial Conduct Panel, as set out in the Act.

At the hearing the Special Counsel presents the allegations about the conduct of the judge concerned, and may make submissions on questions of procedure or applicable law that are raised during the proceedings.

An overseas appointment is logical. Few NZ lawyers would want to effectively prosecute a Supreme Court Justice, that they may have to appear before in future if he retains his job.

What I find interesting is that this appointment was announced, despite the lodging of a judicial review application by Justice Wilson. I may be reading too much into it, but to me that suggests a determination to move forward with the panel.

This may necessitate Justice Wilson trying to injunct the panel, until his judicial review is completed.