Thank you for contacting the Official Information Act request mailbox for
the Ministry of Justice. We will endeavour to acknowledge your
email within 2 working days

You can find more information about how we can help you at our [1]Official
Information Act Requests page.

Please note that by law, when you ask for official information we have to
respond to your request as soon as reasonably practicable and no later
than 20 working days after we receive it.

The Ministry of Justice may publish the response to your request on our
website, you can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will
take place at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name
and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a)
(protect the privacy of natural persons).

Please send any non-OIA related emails through to
o[2][email address] and any complaints through to
[3][email address]

References

Visible links
1. https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/offici...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]

Kia ora Vicky,

Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice.

We acknowledge receipt of your request regarding a Community Magistrate.

This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to.

You can expect a response as soon as practicable.

Ngā mihi,

Ministrerial Relations and Services
Governance and Assurance
Strategy, Governance and Assurance
04 918 8800 | Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture www.justice.govt.nz

show quoted sections

Dear Vicky,

 

Thank you for your email of 9 November 2022, regarding a community
magistrate.

 

As your email is not a request for official information, your request is
not being considered under the Official Information Act 1982.

 

Your email has been forwarded to the Office of the Chief District Court
Judge and they will respond to you directly.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

Emma

   

Ministerial Relations and Services

Governance and Assurance
DDI: +64 4 918 8800

[1]www.justice.govt.nz

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.justice.govt.nz/

Dear Vicky,

 

Thank you for your email of 9 November 2022, requesting, under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), information relating to a
community magistrate. Specifically you asked:

 

Given that that Terence John Bourke has been involved in two court
disputes; one with illegal use of bus lanes, and one with his neighbour -
where there seems to be a significant amount of racism and harassment
towards his neighbour (regardless of his neighbour's behaviour). Is he of
sufficient good character to be acting as a Community Magistrate?

It would seem his behaviour brings the judicial system into disrepute. Has
consideration been given to standing him down from this role?

 

The courts are specifically excluded from the Act under section 2(6)(a). 
Therefore, your request has been refused under section 18(g) of the Act as
the information requested is not held by the Ministry and I have no
grounds for believing it is held by another agency or Minister.

 

However, your request was referred to the Office of the Chief District
Court Judge for comment and it responded as follows:

 

“The Chief Judge generally refrains from commenting on complaints about
the conduct of individual judicial officers. Whenever the Chief Judge
receives a complaint about a Community Magistrate, the Chief Judge deals
with such complaints in accordance with natural justice principles.”

 

If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. The Ombudsman
may be contacted by phone on 0800 802 602 or by email to
[1][email address]

 

 

Ngâ mihi,  

Antony Paltridge  

   

[2]http://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/shared...  

Antony
Paltridge
Team Leader |
Ministerial
Relations and
Services

Governance
and Assurance
Ministry of
Justice |
Tâhû o te
Ture
DX Box
SX10088 |
Wellington

 

 

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]