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Judge calls Judicature Act "Dickensian"

Sunday 17 June 2012, 1:46AM

By New Zealand Justice Forum

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Some "Dickensian" provisions in the New Zealand legal system should be updated because the Judicature Act had been amended many times and now had a "distinctly patchwork quilt" appearance, with gaps and overlaps in legislation, Law Commission president Sir Grant Hammond says. Sir Grant, took part in a civil justice forum focusing on "Towards a new Courts Act" hosted by the University of Otago law faculty last week.

The event was jointly organised by the Otago Legal Issues Centre and the commission and attended by around 25 people.This was New Zealand's second "justice forum", the first being held at the Beehive, in Wellington, last April.

Otago centre director Kim Economides, said he was pleased with the wide range of people who had attended. The commission is reviewing the Judicature Act 1908 and aims to consolidate the legislation involving the New Zealand trial and appellate courts into "one clear, modern and coherent statute" by creating a new Courts Act.

The online New Zealand Justice Forum has been started to support the civil justice forum in its efforts to encourage feedback from end users of the New Zealand justice system.The New Zealand Justice Forum with a basic interface can also be found at- https://apps.faceboo...tice/forums.php or at www.nzjustice.com