Attorney-General involved due to potential conflict.
The New Zealand government has taken steps to address allegations of misconduct against acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken. In a statement released today, Attorney-General Judith Collins referred the matter to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner, who recommended establishing a Judicial Conduct Panel to investigate and report on the incident.
The alleged conduct in question occurred on November 22, 2024. To avoid any appearance of conflict of interest or bias, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith will act as Attorney-General for this specific matter. He is now considering the Judicial Conduct Commissioner's recommendation for a panel to be set up.
According to Ms Collins, her referral and Mr Goldsmith's subsequent involvement are aimed at ensuring an impartial investigation into Judge Aitken's alleged conduct. Further details regarding the incident remain scarce, and no additional comments have been made by government officials on this matter.