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Solicitor General meets with protesters

Monday 8 April 2013, 4:42PM

By New Zealand Justice Forum

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Michael Heron QC
Michael Heron QC Credit: New Zealand Justice Forum
Michael Heron
Michael Heron Credit: New Zealand Justice Forum

On Sunday, a small group of around 15 justice protesters concerned about access to justice and judicial accountability staged a peaceful hour long protest outside the Auckland home of New Zealand's Solicitor General, Michael Heron QC.

Mr Heron heard several individual complaints from those present who claimed that the Crown Law Office had failed to properly represent their interests and several others were concerned about Judges lobbying parliament over changes to Family Court proceedings and another bill that requires judges to make returns of pecuniary interests.

The Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill aims to provide greater transparency and seeks to avoid conflicts of interest in the judicial role. The demonstrators argued that it was a clear violation of the separation of powers for the Chief Justice to lobby parliament against the introduction of the bill,and Mr Heron was reminded that the the Ministry of Justice's own website notes that judicial officers are expected not to publicly comment on whether a policy is good or bad, or to have a view on what policy should be amended, or become law.

Mr Heron is the son of former High Court judge the late Richard Heron