Senior Judge Reshuffle Sees Upset Glazebrook
The elevation of Justice Mark O'Regan has left a judicial nose out of joint

A reshuffling of the judges on the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal has left some judicial noses out of joint, according to NBR's 'Briefcase' columnist John Bowie.

The recent changes follow Justice WIlson's stepping aside from sitting on Supreme Court cases pending the outcome of his application to review the decision to submit his conduct for a formal, judicial inquiry.

Although the Ministry of Justice says that the appointment of Justice 'WIllie' Young and Sir Noel Anderson to the Supreme Court has nothing to do with the Justice WIlson issue, 'Briefcase' says this is a "Tui moment".

However, Bowie points out that the elevation of Justice Mark O'Regan to the position of president of the Court of Appeal has left Justice Susan Glazebrook upset.

"The O’Regan elevation in some ways rivals Justice Wilson’s Milky Way-blitzing rise to the Supreme Court," he says in the today's NBR.

"After all, Justice Glazebrook has been on the Court of Appeal since 2002 and the High Court since 2000. The O’Regan trajectory started in 2001 with his judicial appointment and he’s been in the Court of Appeal since 2004, two years after Justice Glazebrook’s appointment to the Court.

"Although Justice Glazebrook’s capabilities are undoubted and well known, there may well be some concern over her somewhat prickly and at times almost intemperate manner in court," the column says.

"She’s an interrupter and not necessarily having the team-building talents needed to head the court. By contrast, Justice O’Regan’s congeniality and teamwork, derived in part no doubt from his days at Chapman Tripp, make his qualities as president a little more obvious."

ENDS

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