Former judge 'worth a second chance'

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Attorney-General Margaret Wilson says she believed a former district judge, Tony Christiansen, since accused of indecent assault, was "worth a second chance" when she appointed him to the High Court.

Ms Wilson confirmed under Opposition questioning in Parliament yesterday that she was solely responsible for appointing High Court officers, after taking advice from the Chief Justice and Solicitor-General.

But she said in answer to National's justice spokeswoman, Judith Collins, that a process was well under way to set up an office this year to provide her with better support in making future appointments.

Mrs Collins was questioning the appointment as High Court Master of Mr Christiansen, who quit as a district court judge two months after an incident at a Gisborne motel, over which a former probation officer now accuses him of molesting her.

Justice Minister Phil Goff said at the time that Mr Christiansen, who denies anything other than consensual activity, acted honourably in standing down in a belief his behaviour could have brought the Judiciary into disrepute.

Gail Neilson three months ago laid a complaint with the police of indecent assault, saying she did not think anyone would have believed her at the time, in 2001, and having since accepted a cheque for $10,000 in mediation with the former judge.

She claims she woke up in her motel room, after being put to bed intoxicated, to find Mr Christiansen touching her indecently.

Mr Christiansen denies any breach of the law and told former Chief District Court Judge (now Justice) Ron Young through a lawyer a month after the incident that he kissed Ms Neilson, with her consent, before realising he had acted inappropriately, and backing off.

He is understood to have sold his Napier home and taken a Legal Services Agency job in Wellington.

He was appointed to the High Court in February last year, a month after the Corrections Department dismissed Ms Neilson on medical grounds, because of her absence on ACC since the Gisborne incident.

She now seeks compensation for alleged unjustified dismissal. The Employment Relations Authority is due to hear the case next month.

Ms Wilson agreed in Parliament that Mr Christiansen could have brought the judiciary into disrepute, but said his resigning showed an ability to take responsibility for his actions. She had, therefore, decided he was "worth a second chance".

Mrs Collins, responding to a question from NZ First leader Winston Peters, said she was an Auckland District Law Society council member at the time of Mr Christiansen's appointment as a judge in 1995 or 1996, but was never consulted about his appointment.