Solicitor-General Attacked for Double Standard.

National MP Murray McCully has attacked the decision of the Solicitor-General, Terence Arnold, not to commence contempt proceedings against Principal Family Court Judge Patrick Mahony as "a total double standard" in light of the decision to charge Dr Nick Smith, TV3 and Radio New Zealand. Mr McCully said he had received the Solicitor-General's letter today (attached) following a complaint he made last month.

"Dr Smith, Radio New Zealand and TV3 are being pursued by the Solicitor-General for revealing details relating to a case before the Family Court. Yet Judge Mahony discussed key details of the case including the ethnicity of the family, their geographical location, the children's ages and upcoming Court fixtures.

"A decision not to act against Judge Mahony whilst pursuing others is intellectually dishonest and reeks of partisanship. It can only bring the administration of justice into disrepute. I cannot understand how any intelligent, fair-minded person could compare the actions of Judge Mahony with those of the persons who are to be charged and conclude that they should be dealt with differently."

Mr McCully says the Solicitor-General's decision creates "another example of those charged with the administration of justice employing the Joris de Bres principle - rigorously imposing the law on other New Zealanders whilst seeking to place themselves above it. The fact that it was a complaint by Judge Mahony which has caused the Solicitor-General to act against Dr Smith, TV3 and Radio New Zealand is deeply ironic."

"Mr Arnold will rank with those other spectacularly successful Margaret Wilson appointees, Joris de Bres, Ella Henry and Susan Bathgate if this is to be the quality and professionalism of his decision-making."

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