“Doing right for all people according to the laws and customs of New Zealand.”

For those who attended the recent Royal Federation of NZ Justices’ Associations AGM and conference in Blenheim, it was a privilege to hear the presentation by Sir David Carruthers.   Sir David graduated with LLB in 1962 and completed his LLM (Honours) in 1964.  He was appointed a Family Court Judge and Youth Court Judge in 1985 and in 1995 was appointed Principal Youth Court Judge.

In 2001 he was appointed Chief District Court Judge and held that position until his retirement in 2005.  Judge Carruthers was the Chairman of the NZ Parole Board from 2005 until his appointment as Chairman of the Independent Police Conduct Authority in April 2012.

The theme for Sir David’s presentation was “Doing right for all people according to the laws and customs of New Zealand.”

The following are just some of the comments relating to the role of Justices, as expressed by Sir David in his presentation:-

“On my own personal behalf I wish to say how much I appreciate the extraordinary service that you render to this lovely country of ours and the mature and civilised way in which you carry out your duties. No fuss or public outcry or bother. You just get on with the job using a lifetime of skills and experience to do so.  This speaks greatly of the way in which you carry out your duties. 

But the fact that there is no fuss, means there is no opportunity of the public seeing what it is that you do because that it not paraded and how to appreciate what you do, day in, day out. So I would just like to acknowledge that.”

“All of us who carry out public functions, are now required to be as good at it as we possibly can. Whatever part of Justices’ work that you are involved in, now necessarily means undertaking training and renewal programmes so that you are at the top of your game. The public requires that of us all, and the appointment that you have taken requires it. It is part of being accountable and aware of processes and current legislation."

"You are State appointed officers of the law, you work often on sensitive and law related documentation and the public is entitled to expect professional competency in doing that.  My own view is that this should be a legal obligation but Justices in the past, with their maturity of life experience, have never ever needed to be compelled to do their duty.  It has always been a feature of your lives, done willingly.”

“Please take every opportunity for training because your jobs are not going to get easier, they are going to get harder. The pressure is very much greater, the standards are still high and you always set those anyway.”

“You represent a civilised connection in difficult times and difficult circumstances and are the face of justice to people.”

“We are facing very soon some major changes in the way the Criminal Justice system works in this country so there will be new and important challenges, but I know you will be up to it.    So I greatly admire you and greatly respect you.”