The Criminal Bar Association of New Zealand is concerned
about the latest ACT Party attack on the independence of our
courts.
“This is harmful electioneering that
demonstrates exactly why we need the separation of politics
from our justice institutions,” said CBA President Annabel
Cresswell.
“To call our most senior expert judges,
who sit on our Supreme Court ‘activists’, for upholding
the Treaty of Waitangi, is to create culture wars out of
complex reasoned decisions made after lengthy legal
debate.
“Judges are independently appointed based on
their experience and expertise working for decades in the
law. Politicians parachuting in to create racism and
division right before an election, is exactly why our system
has a firm division of powers between parliament and
courts.” Ms Cresswell said.
“Unlike politicians,
judges don’t get to receive large corporate donations,
make policy behind closed doors, or make soundbite
statements on complex issues for clicks.
“The fact
our Courts engage with the rights and public interests in
upholding the Treaty has resulted in protecting the
environment over corporate profits, our voting rights, and
the rights of children and young people. Upholding the
Treaty of Waitangi in fact benefits all New
Zealanders.”
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