Source: http://r126.publications.lawcom.govt.nz/Chapter+15+-+Other+participants/Technical+advisors
Timestamp: 2018-02-18 20:06:47
Document Index: 734564044

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4']

New Zealand Law Commission: Review of the Judicature Act 1908: Towards a new Courts Act - Report 126
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Review of the Judicature Act 1908: Towards a new Courts Act - Report 126
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Letter to Minister
Introduction and summary
Judicature Act 1908
Process of the Review
Part 1 - The structure of new courts legislation
Part 2 - Judges
Part 3 - Courts
Part 4 - Remaining matters
Part 1 The structure of new courts legislation
Chapter 1 - A consolidated Courts Act
Models for structuring the courts legislation
A unitary statute
The alternative: a binary model
Chapter 2 - Judicial review
The future of the Judicature Amendment Act 1972
Content of the draft Bill
Chapter 3 - Rules of court
Current statutory provisions
Issues Paper proposals
Views of submitters
Commission's conclusion
Chapter 4 - Relocation of other provisions in the Judicature Act 1908
Trans-Tasman proceedings: Part 1A
Commercial provisions
Part 2 Judges
Chapter 5 - Appointment of judges
The present formal provisions in New Zealand law
The current mechanics of appointments
Commission's approach in Issues Paper 29
Commission's view
Chapter 6 - Judicial conflicts of interest
No other employment or office - section 4(2A) of the Judicature Act 1908
A register of judges' pecuniary interests?
Chapter 7 - Part-time and acting judges
Part-time judges
Acting judges
Payment of retiring judges
Chapter 8 - Leadership and accountability
Linkages in the structure of the judiciary
Acting Heads of Bench
Court officers performing judicial functions
Reserved judgments
Chapter 9 - Some judicial powers
Contempt in the face of the court
Wasted costs
Part 3 Courts
Chapter 10 - The Commercial List and specialisation in the High Court
Relevant considerations
Chapter 11 - Civil jury trials in the High Court
Chapter 12 - The District Courts
A single national District Court?
Civil jurisdiction
Other District Courts matters
Chapter 13 - The appellate courts
Part 4 Remaining matters
Chapter 14 - Other provisions in the Judicature Act 1908
Equity and the common law
Miscellaneous sections of the Judicature Act 1908
Chapter 15 - Other participants
Payment of costs
Chapter 16 - Vexatious actions
Identified problems
A civil restraint order regime
Querulous litigants
Appendix 1 - Terms of reference
Appendix 2 - Lists of submitters
Issues Paper 21
Issues Paper 29
Appendix 3 - Draft Judicial Review (Statutory Powers) Procedure Bill
Appendix 4 - Draft contempt in the face of the court provision
Appendix 5 - List of recommendations
Does anything need to be done?
15.55Since 1999, the Court of Appeal has had the statutory ability to appoint a technical advisor to assist it in an appeal where questions arise from evidence relating to scientific, technical, or economic matters, or from other expert evidence.247 The Supreme Court has had the same power since its establishment in 2004.248
15.56However, neither court has ever used the power, and it has been noted it is unclear just how the technical advisor would give assistance if appointed.249 In Issues Paper 29, the Commission asked for views on why the provision has not been used, and whether there is a need for guidelines on the appointment of technical advisors.250
15.57In relation to the issue of why section 99A of the Judicature Act 1908 has never been used, Duncan Cotterill and the New Zealand Law Society ventured the explanation that it does not sit well with the adversarial approach to litigation we have in New Zealand. Duncan Cotterill suggested that, if a technical advisor is needed, the parties would call experts themselves. On the other hand, the Law Society noted that throughout legal history judges have often had to grapple with complex technical evidence, without the assistance of “independent” advisors.
15.58The Senior Courts’ judges were of the view technical advisors have not been used because parties have not sought their appointment. Further, in areas where particular expertise is seen as necessary, they submitted there are more specific provisions available (for example, in commerce cases and cases involving allegations of unlawful discrimination).
15.59The Commission is not convinced all of these reasons stand up to scrutiny. For instance, the main point of the technical advisor (as we see it) is to assist the appellate judges to understand expert evidence that has been called by the parties, which will usually have happened at first instance. As such, it is only indirectly related to the adversarial system and the calling of evidence.
15.60Further, despite parties being able to apply for a technical advisor to be appointed, the Commission considers the purpose of the provision to be for the court to appoint one of its own impetus. The point of a technical advisor is to help the appellate judges understand the expert evidence presented by the parties, and the court will normally be best-placed to determine if it requires this assistance.
15.61The Commission considers the Law Society’s second point is probably correct: the appellate court judges have traditionally had to deal with complex expert evidence themselves without reference to any external advisors, and have usually done so admirably. It is perhaps not surprising then that they have continued to do so, notwithstanding that they can now obtain help if they so require.
15.62In any event, no submitters suggested that the provision should not be kept, or that any further guidance is necessary, so the Commission is content for it to be carried over into new legislation as it is.
R82 The provisions relating to technical advisors should be carried over into new courts legislation.
247Judicature Act 1908, s 99B(1).
248Supreme Court Act 2003, s 48(1).
249Vector Ltd v Transpower New Zealand Ltd (2000) 14 PRNZ 240 (HC) at [49].
250Review of the Judicature Act 1908: Towards a consolidated Courts Act, above n 220, at Q53-Q54.