Chief Justice calls Clark a stupid bitch!
October 29th, 2004 at 7:30 am by David FarrarOkay okay that is what she thought not said, but nevertheless to have the Chief Justice state that the Prime Minister has “a profound lack of understanding” about judicial independence and our constitutional arrangements is an incredibly harsh and unprecedented criticism from the head of one branch of Government against another.
It is curious that Clark has managed to offend Sean Elias so much, because politically they are both from the left, with similiar worldviews I daresay.
Clark will no doubt be very offended by any suggestion she is ignorant, and will try and attack Elias personally unless Mike Munro can keep her sedated. If it really does get personal, then perhaps we could get them onto the celbrity boxing circuit like Paula Jones and Tonya Harding?
No tag for this post.
October 29th, 2004 at 7:42 am
Profoundly comforting to know the chooks are pecking the hell out of each other. She must be a very astute lady, this chief justice, to have realised now what ordinary people have known for a long time. That’s the “Stupid bitch” part, of course.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 8:18 am
The PM has a tin ear on constitutional conventions. The points the Chief Justice is making would be too subtle for her. It seems the Chief is wanting to be bulk funded at least on running costs or what is called a single line budget item. Must not mention bulk funding. You can be sure the the public comments are merely the tip of a very unhappy iceberg. There seems to be friction with the Attorney General as well.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 8:36 am
Tim, it is precisely that they are on the left that they are now falling out with each other – no one is better at internecine squabbles than the internally factionalised left in New Zealand.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 9:01 am
AB , youll find how factionalised you get when the voters dont want you back next time. the CRN selection board will give you a pass, I mean going from 1st to 7th polling takes some total lack of nous. The demographic shifts in Auckland have made Eden/Albert as solid for the left as Western bays, the Tamaki area is losing its independents and you lot from the flash inner suburbs wont have a chance getting selection from the social conservatives of Mt Roskill
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 10:30 am
They could settle their differences in the traditional girl-on-girl way … jelly wrestling.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 10:51 am
Whats the CJ bleating about pensions not being guaranteed, and having to toe the line to get cushy apointments after retirement?
Shes let the cat out of the bag here: just set yourself up as a mediator in commercial disputes, to avoid long delays and the expense of using the court system . Hello . we have a partly dysfunctional system, and the CJ and JJ are worried about their feathering their nests.
Vote:Elias couldnt get a retirement job on pedestrian crossing since she didnt have an economic practice before she joined the judiciary.
I think we should go back to the system where CJ are NOT promoted from the ranks.
The amazing stuff is that IT support from the justice ministry breaks constitutional conventions.
well if the judges werent visting porn sites they dont have to worry about the IT support checking their internet habits along with every other justice department hireling
October 29th, 2004 at 12:35 pm
The CJ rightly makes the point that essential services such as security and IT support are in the hands of and at the mercy of the executive branch of Government. This essential support must be in the hands of Judges, subject only to reasonable accountability otherwise their independance will be compromised. This could when litigating against the Crown, Judges will lean in favour of the Crown and the Act party least of all wants that. That is what is meant by independance.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 1:36 pm
David, the CJ is not a “Head of one branch of government”. That is American nonsense, and there has been a lot said about Elias’ attempts to create a constitutional coup by having the supreme court set up in that manner. There is only one branch of government, which is itself the highest court in the land, and that is parliament, of which the Prime Minister is head.
Elias is an activist judge, who holds a grudge against Clark ever since Clark told her there were limits on her power.
She lost the last round of attacks, with lawyer after lawyer coming out in defense of the governments position, and I have no doubt that this latest issue will be dealt with similarly. To suggest that two of the most intelligent people in New Zealand, Michael Cullen and Helen Clark, have no understanding of an issue they have been working in for the last 30 years is beyond belief.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 1:47 pm
Stephen Cooper. You were doing real well, had me eating out of your hand even. Until that fateful moment when you said “two of the most intelligent people in New Zealand” and then I realised I was listening to Daffy Duck.
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 3:01 pm
Coming from one that questioned Parliament’s supremacy I have problems taking anything she says seriously – even when they’re true (as in this case).
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 3:24 pm
Poor little Ztev thinks I’m out down for the count….
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 4:01 pm
Aaron, it would appear that you just made it back on to your feet. 6 hours and that was your comeback? Tsk tsk. CRN have enough time on their hands now to think up better comebacks than that, don’t they?
Seriously though, the whole spat has the ugly potential to politicise the judiciary. Judicial independence is to be cherished. ‘GWB (and JEB) vs Suprememe Court, Florida, 2000′ anybody?
Vote:October 29th, 2004 at 10:06 pm
Adolf, I freely admit I’m a Labour party member. Call me daffy if you will.
I also happen to think Don Brash is one of the most intelligent politicians we have, he’s just got no credibility on anything except accounting theory.
I’ve met Helen Clark, and I’ve heard Cullen in live debate (outside parliament). They are obviously intelligent. I don’t think you are going to convince anyone of your position by responding to mine with ad hominem.
Vote:October 30th, 2004 at 9:18 am
Matt, are you seriously suggesting I ought to be sulking about my loss in the local body elections when I have so much to look forward to over the course of the upcoming year? What on earth made you think that the community board was the ONLY thing going on in my life, and that now that the voters have relieved me of that responsibility I need to hang around blogs every hour to respond to Ztev and his ilk?
Vote:October 30th, 2004 at 12:38 pm
Oh shut up Aaron.
If you’ve got stuff to do, get on with it.
Posing didn’t do John banks any good either.
Vote:October 30th, 2004 at 2:08 pm
So sorry that I don’t have enough to do Stephen – can’t let a mighty blog commenter like you be upset now, can we?
Vote:October 30th, 2004 at 5:21 pm
Vote:October 31st, 2004 at 5:47 pm
>That is American nonsense, and there has been a >lot said about Elias’ attempts to create a >constitutional coup by having the supreme court >set up in that manner. There is only one branch >of government, which is itself the highest court >in the land, and that is parliament, of which >the Prime Minister is head.
Stephen, you have just proven that the Labour Party has *no idea* how our constitution works.
I’ve posted my own thoughts on your comments on my blog (follow the link)
Vote:November 1st, 2004 at 1:26 pm
Lewis – he’s proved no such thing. He has proved that Stephen Cooper doesn’t know how the New Zealand constitution operates – nothing more and nothing less. Can I say that others of us are slightly more informed about it.
Jordan.
Vote: