Andrea Vance reports at the Post:
A district court judge and her reality TV star partner have apologised for “verbally attacking” Winston Peters, Casey Costello and other New Zealand First members at a Christmas party.
Chief Judge Heemi Taumaunu has also apologised on behalf of the court.
Judge Ema Aitken and intensive care specialist David Galler were attending an end-of-year bash for district judges at Auckland’s exclusive Northern Club last month, when they gate-crashed a private function for Peters’ party in a neighbouring room.
The rumpus started as Peters was making a speech. It’s alleged Aitken tried to enter the room and shouted: “He’s lying! How can you let him say that?”
The Post
The judge was clearly drunk; this is not a good look when she is one of the main judges in the adult Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court that was established in 2012 to pilot an innovative approach to offending fuelled by alcohol and other drug addiction.
David Galler is highly political and spent seven years as the principal medical advisor to Helen Clark’s Labour government.
A video clip from the party also shows prominent barrister, Michael Reed KC, refusing to stop taking photographs of NZ First guests, including Shane Jones’ wife Dot, despite strict club rules.
Michael Reed KC is also nicknamed Greedy Reedy by the legal fraternity. He is the partner of Nikki Mathers, DCJ. She is a good judge. Reed would have been deep in the gossip at the judges’ function then, when he had a skinful, decided to come and tango with Winston Peters.
The connections are even worse than that. The convener of the event was Steve Bonner KC, another DCJ. He was the KC who approved prosecuting the NZ First Foundation, which ultimately failed when the SFO couldn’t produce a shred of evidence of any crime.
This appears, for all intents and purposes, to be a pit of political vipers with scant respect for democratic processes.
Attorney-General Judith Collins, who is the Crown’s senior law officer, said she was aware of the incident and “appalled by it”.
“I have told the Chief Justice that such behaviour is completely unacceptable and I expect it to be addressed,” she said.
Just sack the judge if she won’t resign. They need to know they actually aren’t untouchable.
According to an incident report, compiled by an independent lawyer acting on behalf of Northern Club and NZ First, based on witness statements, Aitken left the dinner to use the bathroom and heard Peters’ speech as she passed.
The report says she accused Peters of lying, in a comment to Holly Howard, who asked her to leave.
“However, Judge Aitken continued to shout and make a scene … Judge Aitken then told Ms Howard that there was a room full of judges next door, and they would be very interested to hear about this,” the incident report said.
Unsurprisingly, the judge in question may find herself on the receiving end of a defamation lawsuit from Winston Peters. Her behaviour is that of a bully. I bet Brian Henry is licking his chops in anticipation.
In the second video, the report reveals, Reed tells the staff member: “Don’t touch me because you will be sued for a lot of money.” He also tells him “Can you be quiet, can you be quiet?”
The sense of entitlement is high. But let’s see the videos that Andrea Vance is talking about. I think they will seal the judge’s fate.
