lawnews

Crown rejects ‘tainted witness’ claim, tells Supreme Court evidence against convicted double-murderer Scott Watson is ‘overwhelming’

Neil Sands The case against Scott Watson is “overwhelming”, even without an eyewitness identification that placed him with ...
lawnews

Senior practitioner censured, suspended and hit with big costs award after multiple misconduct findings and ‘sometimes appalling’ behaviour towards juniors

Mahvash Ikram A senior lawyer barred from practising on her own account – but ran her firm anyway – has been censured, ...
lawnews

‘It’s really frustrating and difficult’: One year on, still no tribunal decision in high-stakes legal battle between lesbian group and Wellington Pride

Neil Sands A group involved in a high-profile dispute involving transgender rights and free speech has expressed frustration ...
lawnews

Lawyer censured for courtroom drunkenness – the sixth disciplinary matter for this ‘experienced and competent’ practitioner

Neil Sands A lawyer who turned up to court drunk has been censured and barred from practising on her own, with a disciplinary ...
lawnews

Labour pledges immediate action on under-16s social media ban, proposes Aussie-style ‘digital duty of care’

Neil Sands Labour says it will implement a social media ban for under-16s and impose a “digital duty of care” on tech giants ...
lawnews

Critics and supporters run the rule over National’s plan to criminalise the right to silence in child murder cases

Neil Sands The National Party has pledged to abolish the right to silence in child murder cases, in a move welcomed by ...
lawnews

Scott Watson contests his double-murder conviction in the Supreme Court, counsel disputes identification evidence

Neil Sands Eyewitness evidence that identified Scott Watson as the “mystery man” seen with Olivia Hope and Ben Smart on the ...
lawnews

The fault in democracy that elections do not fix

LawNews welcomes opinion and commentary pieces from all sides of the political and social spectrum. LawNews supports the right of individuals to hold and express different opinions and will publish a ...
lawnews

Sick of your job and New Zealand’s very average weather? The Cook Islands may have a deal for you

Do you practise in trusts and estates law? The Cook Islands could have a job for you. As wealthy foreigners – particularly in the US – seek to protect their assets from creditors, trust registrations ...
lawnews

Disciplinary officer clears lawyer of unsatisfactory conduct, overturns standards committee censure and blasts complainants

A disciplinary review officer has overturned an unsatisfactory conduct finding against Tauranga lawyer Kirsten Murfitt for promoting her client’s views on social media and a podcast, dismissing an ...