The publishing of Covid-19 related judgements by The Courts - Take 2
Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Ministry of Justice
Response to this request is delayed. By law, Ministry of Justice should normally have responded promptly and by (details and exceptions)
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Ministry of Justice,
The Minister of Justice resigned in July 2023. This page has been removed https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/judgments...
1. Prior to this page;s removal, would you please would you supply all the criteria for publishing a "Covid 19 related judgement" on this page of court decisions page:
https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/judgments...
2. Would you kindly share the reasons why the following case which took place in the public court in 2022 which is Covid-19 related are not available on the NZ Courts decisions finder?
-Whittome v Taupo Tennis and Ors CIV-2022 -069-000021,
3 Kindly share the memos, minutes and decisions which came about for the above publishing criteria of the page for "Covid-19 related Judgements".
4. Kindly share the memos, minutes and decision which came about for the removal of this page that used to be on your website https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/judgments...
Yours faithfully,
Erika Whittome
From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
Ministry of Justice
Kia ora,
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From: OIA@justice.govt.nz
Ministry of Justice
Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for contacting the Ministry of Justice.
We acknowledge receipt of your request regarding the publishing of Covid-19 related judgements by The Courts.
This has been forwarded to the relevant business unit for consideration and response.
You can expect a response by 16/11/2023.
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).
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Relations and Services | Strategy, Governance and Finance
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
Level 6 Justice Centre | Aitken Street
DX Box SX 10088 | Wellington
www.justice.govt.nz
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From: Media
Ministry of Justice
Dear Erika
Please find attached.
Ngā mihi,
Communications Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
www.[1]justice.govt.nz
References
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From: Erika Whittome
Dear Media,
Your response says for me to :
please contact Media & Social Media Manager, Joe Locke, at [email address]
Are you saying that the publishing of court decisions (and I have given you an example district court decision with no name suppression, I might add), is controlled by a "Media and Social Media manager"?
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Media,
Would you kindly share your policies that are used for “consideration for publication” of court decisions from your media and social media manager?
You say:
If you require any further information, please contact Media & Social Media Manager, Joe Locke, at [email address]
Would Joe Locke or his manager kindly answer this questions?
You have not answered this OIA question and have deferred this to the jurisdiction of the Court.
However These court decisions are already decided. They are no longer in the Court. Remember that The Court is a public place, (apart from certain family and children court scenarios). There is no more to be done regarding a decision in the Court once the decision for a case is written up.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: Media
Ministry of Justice
Dear Erika,
As per the 15 November response to your OIA, decisions about the publication of judgments and associated documents are court information.
Courts and Tribunals are judicial bodies that operate independently from the Government. The Ministry of Justice does not hold court information.
The District Court website publishes a selection of judgments from the criminal, family, youth and civil jurisdictions of the District Court, including COVID-19 related judgments. These are selected against criteria and policy set by the District Court judicial leadership.
These criteria and policy documents are court information that is not subject to the Act.
You also have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted by email at [email address] or by phone on 0800 802 602.
ngā mihi,
Paul Easton
Principal Media Advisor | Communications Services
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
[email address] | justice.govt.nz
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