The Government has announced the appointment of members to a Judicial Conduct Panel to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken.
Acting Attorney-General Paul Goldsmith said the Judicial Conduct Commissioner recommended a panel be set up to inquire into Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct at the Northern Club on 22 November last year.
“I accepted that recommendation. Following consultation with the Chief Justice, I have now appointed Panel members: the Honourable Brendan Brown KC, the Honourable Justice Jillian Mallon and the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, KStJ,” said Mr Goldsmith.
“I have also appointed Tim Stephens KC as special counsel in the Panel’s inquiry.
“Following its inquiry, the Panel will provide me with a report, including its opinion as to whether consideration of Judge Aitken’s removal is justified. I won’t be making any further comment until then.”
About the Panel members:
- The Honourable Brendan Brown KC is a retired Judge of the Court of Appeal (2016–24) and High Court (2013–24). Earlier this year, he was appointed a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. Prior to judicial appointment, he was counsel assisting the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, and appeared for the Crown in the Wai 262 claims regarding indigenous flora and fauna.
- The Honourable Justice Jillian Mallon is a sitting Judge of the Court of Appeal (since 2023) and High Court (since 2006). She was Wellington High Court List Judge (2017–23), a member of that Court’s commercial panel, and managed that Court’s work under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011.
- The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, KStJ (pictured, left) is a former Governor-General (2011–16), High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (2017–20) and Chief of Defence Force (2006–11). He recently completed a United Nations appointment as the Bougainville External Moderator (2024–25) and chaired the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events (2023–24). He is currently a member of the Council of Massey University.
- Tim Stephens KC (pictured, right) is a barrister at Stout Street Chambers, Wellington. He has 30 years’ experience in commercial, regulatory, public law and Treaty of Waitangi matters. He is a former convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s Law Reform Committee and current member of its Public Law Committee.
