A District Court judge who was accused of striking a lawyer with a crutch at a charity event, and who has been on sick leave since, will return to work at the end of this month.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
An anonymous complaint had been made to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner about Judge Anna Johns but had been "resolved", Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue said.
Judge Johns will have a new role when she returns.
She had sat at the Manukau District Court but when Judge Johns returns at the end of this month, she will sit at the Waitakere District Court where there was currently a shortage of judges, Judge Jan-Marie Doogue said.
Judge Doogue described Judge Johns as an experienced and senior judge. She regarded the matter as closed and said she looked forward to Judge Johns' return.
RNZ understands the complaint claimed Judge Johns was involved in a brief verbal altercation with lawyer Scott Leith at a charity function for Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust that was hosted by comedian Guy Williams at Auckland's Northern Club.
The event was attended by lawyers and judges from across Auckland.
The trust was established in 2014 to help social worker Michelle Kidd continue her work providing support to people in court.
The judge had recently undergone hip surgery and was on crutches. The complaint alleged she struck Mr Leith with a crutch.
At the time, Mr Leith said the incident had been grossly exaggerated by the anonymous complainant. He said he'd seen the complaint and said it was "illiterate". He also said he in no way supported the complaint.
RNZ news contacted Mr Leith for comment last night. He said he has not been formally advised of the outcome of the complaint but said that was not suprising because he was not the complainant.
He would not be making any further comment, he said.
