By STUART DYE
A self-styled justice campaigner faces possible legal action for harassment after following and videotaping a High Court judge.
Dermot Nottingham could also face contempt of court charges for publishing on a website comments relating to his ongoing court case.
Justice Tony Randerson was fined $150 after he crossed the
centreline while driving his car home to an Auckland suburb.
Mr Nottingham, who was tailing the judge, recorded the incident and gave the tape to police with a formal complaint.
He has published the video and photos on his website, which he says is dedicated to fighting injustice.
But the Aucklander, who has campaigned against odometer fraud, has been told by the Solicitor-General, Terence Arnold, QC, that he will be charged if his crusade continues.
"I am concerned by this conduct, to the extent that I am considering commencing proceedings against you for contempt of court," he wrote to Mr Nottingham.
"I also consider that your actions in contacting and carrying out surveillance of judges may amount to harassment."
Mr Nottingham has said there is "no way" Mr Arnold will prosecute.
It was not harassment, he said, because he had been following Justice Randerson as part of an investigation to support his claim that the judge should not have handled an odometer-tampering case.
Mr Arnold said he would give Mr Nottingham the opportunity to remove the material on the website before a decision was made on whether to prosecute.
He also suggested that Mr Nottingham bore a grudge against Justice Randerson, and warned him to leave the judge alone.
"The allegations concerning judicial corruption, bias, and the existence of a widespread conspiracy against you mirror the allegations you have made in court on numerous occasions.
"As I see it, such conduct is an attempt on your part to relitigate the earlier court proceedings in the public arena and to vilify and punish the judges involved."
The letter warns that contempt of court is a criminal offence and penalties can be a fine or imprisonment.
Mr Nottingham said he bore no grudge, and had written back to the Solicitor-General accusing him of "gangland" tactics.
"I will not be intimidated by the serious threats contained in this ill-informed and intemperate correspondence," he said.
It was a matter of free speech and both letters would go on the website.
