Comments on: QCs are back

By: gd

gd — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:13:53 +0000

Yes As a Monarchist and proud to be of English grandparentage I appauld the AG

Now to complete the treble lets get rid of that activist and baised Supreme Court and let the Judical Committee of the Privy Council be our final Court

Then and only then will we have access to some of the finest legal minds rather than the cabal of closed minded protectionist that we have at present

By: tvb

tvb — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:26:27 +0000

The change to SC was part of a cynical secret agenda to remove Her Majesty from everything possible and reduce her role to absolutely nothing and then simply push her aside. I am glad these have been restored and to have it largely limited to people who practice on their own account, take on difficult cases and have a long track record of profession competence, integrity and good character. They are the pool from which our High Court Judges are drawn, whom have to hold the balance between to the state and the individual.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:47:26 +0000

Agree with your Lawrence, a real air force would be most welcome.
This is a good move but definitely just a step on the long road back to good governance.

By: Lawrence Hakiwai

Lawrence Hakiwai — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:23:59 +0000

Now if we could just have a real air force back again – it’ll be like we never had a Labour Government.

By: AG

AG — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:11:41 +0000

“When the appellation was changed from ‘QC’ to ‘SC’ we suddenly had to find a new name for those of great experience but who do not practice at the inner bar. As far as I know, the issue is still a matter of discussion!”

How about, “old buggers”?

By: F E Smith

F E Smith — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:54:57 +0000

This is good news, but perhaps not for the reasons you might think: before the dumb change in the name and the criteria, we were always able to call barristers of many years experience ‘senior counsel’ without suggesting they had taken silk. When the appellation was changed from ‘QC’ to ‘SC’ we suddenly had to find a new name for those of great experience but who do not practice at the inner bar. As far as I know, the issue is still a matter of discussion!

So it makes life much easier for the tiny percentage of us to whom it actually means something!

Interestingly enough, and very technically, a barrister of no matter how many years experience but who hasn’t taken silk is still a ‘junior’.

I am also glad to see this go back primarily to the separate bar. Those who aspire to the inner bar should be required to make the step out of the comfort of the firm before getting silk

I make an exception for the legendary Prof John Burrows QC, a wonderful man and an exceptional legal mind.

By: Colonel Masters

Colonel Masters — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:41:54 +0000

Not sure why the name has to change?

If we become a republic, do we also have to get rid of the Queen’s Chain and King Size beds?

By: Rex Widerstrom

Rex Widerstrom — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:39:46 +0000

can we at least replace the QC rank with a differently-named rank with the initials Q.C.?

Well Graeme, the late lamented Rumpole used to suggest “Queer Customer”. I’d be all for that

I see Portia beat me to it, but I was going to ask whether, when I hire a KC, I get the Sunshine Band for free or whether the bloody lawyers will find a way to bill for them as incidentals?

By: Portia

Portia — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:24:12 +0000

Wasn’t aware that either Marie Dyhrberg or Chris Comeski had taken silk.

I for one am looking forward to a KC and the Sunshine Band revival!

By: emmess

emmess — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:11:57 +0000

Don’t care either way about the title
But someone should get rid of scum like Peter Williams QC, Marie Dyhrberg QC and Chris Comeski QC

By: Graeme Edgeler

Graeme Edgeler — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:01:05 +0000

When or if we become a republic, the name will have to change…

When this happens, can we at least replace the QC rank with a differently-named rank with the initials Q.C.?

By: MyNameIsJack

MyNameIsJack — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:41:55 +0000

Well hasn’t that just put the icing on the cake? NZ is prospering, unemployment is at record lows, exports are at record highs, we have leapt in to the top two on OECD ranks for wealth and every child can now get the healthcare and education they need.

Qcs are back, knighthoods are back – glad to see National knows the priorities!

By: maurieo

maurieo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:05:33 +0000

Perhaps the initials could be kept but the words changed
We had a guy at school everyone called QC but he wasn’t a Queen’s Council