Thought I printed three copies by mistake but no the other side’s subs really are that long.

Can't believe what the High Court had to say about the This-Breaches-The-Bill-Of-Rights-Act Act 2024.

Courts of New Zealand@courtsofnz.bsky.social · 6d ago

(1/2) High Court issues declaration that prohibition on public display of gang insignia is inconsistent with right to freedom of expression under s14 of New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Limitation on right had not been justified under s5; rationally connected to objective of Act but disproportionate.

I aspire to this level of disdain.

There's a very funny Viscount Dilhorne quote I want to put in a footnote, but if I do that I'll need to walk up to the HC library to find the AC report of the case to get the pinpoint.

Paul Collins proposed as the new Judicial Conduct Commissioner. What a great appointment that would be! www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

The week in Parliament : A new watcher of judges and a free-for-all debate on petitions

Highlights for the coming week in Parliament include a new judge watcher, a large group of visiting female Pacifica MPs, a Privileges Committee hearing into MBIE staff, and a free-for-all debate on pe...

rnz.co.nz

A high school was visiting the High Court today, so I made my submissions with an audience of 40 teenagers in the public gallery. Pleased to be inspiring the next generation to careers in medicine and engineering.

I’m in the legal district.

I’m in Christchurch and as far as I can tell the CBD is entirely law firms.

one of the difficulties faced as a self employed tradesperson is when clients won't sack you

We have previously appointed rascals (James Crosby Martin, Worley Bassett Edwards) but never a Crook!

Courts of New Zealand@courtsofnz.bsky.social · 2w ago

The Chief Justice welcomes the Attorney-General’s announcement today of the appointment of Justice Edward Crook as a Judge of the High Court. sen.nz/z6q3hd

2026 Doyle’s Guide lists every New Zealand lawyer.

It’s the War On Christmas!

Newsroom NZ@newsroom.co.nz · 2w ago

Christopher Luxon says he needs Mahesh Muralidhar in Wellington to "disrupt the public service", but Act isn't giving up without a fight.

Parliamentary Counsel Office have (re)added the ability to view and print individual sections to legislation.govt.nz!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Most judges, crafting an opening: time for a zinger-on-wry. Gwyn J, crafting an opening: the ageless terrors of the deep are not for land-bound mortals to know. Environmental Law Initiative v Minister for Oceans and Fisheries [2026] NZHC 1887.

This account is sponsored by Oaty-O’s. Oaty-O’s! A necessary part of breakfast!

"Now we haven't got a thing to not wear."

You can’t begin the promo post “Standing together” if two of you are sitting!

Before you complain about "secret" briefings please remember it's quite possible that you were personally handed and then emailed briefings by Fonterra and Z Energy and you've simply forgotten.

Developing a legal research AI and calling it Espinasse.

One of my favourite genres of news article is “here is all the weird shit we know about the defendant that we couldn’t publish during the trial”.

Nicoll v Police [2026] NZHC 1781 an interesting discussion about tailoring sentences to avoid/invoke parole consequences - eg a sentence of two years and one day. But also noteworthy for this line from Johnstone J.

Some brainworms escaping containment in Kirkham v Winkelmann [2026] NZCA 269. Jesus!

You wouldn’t exactly want to be playing a game of Guess Who.

Some people are very excited about this Garfield AI that beat a team of lawyers but my years of litigation experience have prepared me for this. I’ve lost to silks, I’ve lost to good lawyers, I’ve lost to shit lawyers, I’ve gone down in a screaming heap to self-reps. I’m ready to lose to AI.

Made my first (only?) "would your Honour wish to consider recusing yourself" submission today! (Appropriately.) (And yes they did wish to consider that and yes they did recuse themselves.)

Philip Joseph saying this is like if the Briscoes Lady keyed Paul Goldsmith’s car. e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-...

Philip Joseph: The minister's failure to act honourably | E-Tangata

"It is unacceptable that a minister of the Crown should treat Tribunal findings with such off-hand indifference. The Tribunal's constitutional functions impose reciprocal obligations on the Crown to a...

e-tangata.co.nz

Where judges get their lunch.

Got home late from a pub quiz last night and my much more talented wife was watching a live stream of a UKSC hearing. Her greeting was "This guy is being brutalised by Lord Leggatt".

Wairarapa Moana Ki Pouākani Inc v Attorney-General [2026] NZCA 255 a fascinating judgment in that the Court of Appeal spends the entire time having to try to explain why it's not going to do what the SC did in Fitzgerald, and then also why it's not going to do what the SC did in Chisnall.