Judge’s case to remain closed

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 4

Judge’s case to remain closed

PA Hamilton The matter of the Hamilton District Court judge who altered the official record of a case before it went to appeal was closed and would not be reopened, the Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, has said. No injustice had resulted and no further action was warranted, Mr Palmer told the “Waikato Times.” The Court of Appeal found in October, 1985, that Judge David Richardson had made 31 alterations in the official transcript of the case, which he had heard earlier that year.

Told that a lawyer involved with the case intended asking the Hamil-

ton District Law Society to push for its reopening, Mr Palmer said he deplored the fact that the matter had been raised after such a long time and after the justice system had already dealt with it. The Judge had written to the Court of Appeal before it had disposed of the case, outlining what he had done. “No possible injustice could have occurred,” Mr Palmer said. The Chief District Court Judge, Judge Trapski, had had a serious talk to Judge Richardson, he said. The case had been examined fully and carefully.

“The matter is closed and will not be reopened,” Mr Palmer said.