2 Dec 2009

Judge faces investigation over prejudice

5:33 pm on 2 December 2009

A judge is to be investigated as to whether he was prejudiced in a case because of a business relationship he had with a lawyer appearing before him.

The Supreme Court last week held that Justice Wilson should not have sat on a Court of Appeal hearing into a dispute between the Saxmere wool growers group and the former Wool Board.

Saxmere says the Judge co-owned a horse stud with one of the board's lawyers.

The Attorney General Chris Finlayson says a complaint is now being considered by a Judicial Conduct Commissioner.

The Supreme Court has ordered a rehearing of the Saxmere case before a new panel of Appeal Court judges.